Answer:
Holy good ****, didn't feel like reading a novel at this time...sorry
You bring up a good point and a good question deserves a good answer. I have recovered from PTSD and depression with other complications secondary to traumatic brain injury. I have been released from treatment by my psychologist and only see the psychiatrist every four months now, so I would say that I qualify to answer your question.
The issue is one of recovering from mental health issues and not necessarily looking at the cause. With mental illness, there is a cause and an effect. By that, I mean that I don't believe that mental illness is a moral issue, but a medical issue. To be sure, the medication(s) I take on a regular basis are my first line of defense against my symptoms of mental illness (depression, anxiety, etc.). But the medication is not a cure. The cure comes in changing the way I feel by changing the way I think.
See, mental illness is a two-fold problem and needs a two-fold solution. Yes, there is a biological component to mental illness and that part has to be treated accordingly with medication. But mental illness often brings about a victim mentality that must be changed if recovery is possible. So do people create their own mental health problems? No. But they probably can and do aggravate it.
Human brain is a very complex organ, the thing about it I don't like but we all have to live with is that it has its own ways despite the fact that it is literally you. It just works secretly on some things that you do not notice until they create a whole mess. The question we should as is: Does our brain control us or do we control our brain? Pretty tough huh? I know people with a very good control over their thoughts and people who have very poor control, maybe genetics play a big role here, maybe life experienes? OK, but what is sure is that certainly you CAN excersice some control or direct your thoughts and actions in a direction that is positive for you. You should fight man, try new ways of doing things, discovering the joys of life, the magnificent landscapes you can find, the uniqueness of different people, taste new foods, find something that you like, be persistent....and do not let your brain work secretly too much
yes and no. people that have horrible things happen to them and have mental problems is uncontrollable. but the people that live great lives and are negative all the time do tend to have more health and mental problems. its been proven. whereas the obsessive thing, its OCD, but its not brought upon by ones self. Everyone goes through stages in life. Some more extreme than others. As a kid i always had to have water on my hands, so I'd wash my hands countless times, to the point where my parents had to monitor my water usage. I also used to have to constantly check to make sure my alarm was right, and still do some to this day. So, its a yes and no answer.