it’s mental health awareness month, and although this month has been attributed to it, it is important to be aware of it every day of the year.

today, unfortunately, these problems are still minimized by labeling them as synonymous with “bad spells” or “occasional downturns”. in other words, something that is temporary and does not deserve so much importance.

there are many mental illnesses that have a solution and a way out; however, there are other mental illnesses that are chronic, although this does not mean that they cannot be treated.

it’s important to realize that mental health, as well as mental illness, has the same validity and importance as physical illness. unlike physical illnesses, mental illnesses do not necessarily have to be visible, and anyone can be suffering greatly in silence.

more than sixty years ago, the U.S. congress declared may as mental health awareness month, to further increase awareness of this issue because some of the indifference and ignorance about it is due to lack of information.

due to prejudice, only one in three people who suffer from mental illness ask for help.

a mentally ill person is very easily and mistakenly defined as “crazy”, claiming that suffering from, for example, diabetes is not the same as suffering from depression. depression has nothing to do with being lazy or weak, or not working hard enough, but is a change in brain chemistry or function. and the same goes for all other mental illnesses: it is not something voluntary.

there are many people whose mental illness leads to death, and many are afraid to ask for help. that is why it is so important to be aware that a person with a mental illness is still a human being who deserves attention, care and help.

mental illness affects everyone.

there is a stigma against people with mood disorders and mental illness. may is the month to raise awareness that these people are no different from those without mental health problems.

what are mental illness and mood disorders?

mental illnesses and mood disorders are primarily chemical imbalances in the brain, or structural deficits that lead people to feel the way they do or how people feel influences their actions. the following is not all-inclusive information about these disorders but it is enough to educate people so that they can identify changes in mental health. if you think you know of anyone who fits these descriptions please take the time to talk to them and suggest professional help.

schizophrenia and other psychoses.

schizophrenia is a serious mental disorder that affects about 21 million people worldwide. psychoses, including schizophrenia, are characterized by abnormalities in thinking, perception, emotions, language, self-perception, and behavior. psychoses are often accompanied by hallucinations (hearing, seeing, or perceiving something that does not exist) and delusions (persistent ideas that do not conform to reality of which the person is firmly convinced, even when there is evidence to the contrary). these disorders can make it difficult for the person to work or study normally.

stigmatization and discrimination can result in a lack of access to social and health services. in addition, there is a high risk that the human rights of affected persons will not be respected, for example through prolonged confinement in psychiatric facilities.

people with schizophrenia often have a family history. people are more likely to suffer from schizophrenia if they have an autoimmune disease, use psychedelic drugs or have complications at birth. common features of schizophrenia include self-harm, anxiety disorders, depression, aggression, social isolation, and drug abuse. complications include harm to others, and suicide.

anxiety.

everyone feels anxious on some level. some people feel butterflies, and for others, the anxiety is with them 24/7. anxiety is caused by a trigger that starts uncomfortable thoughts. some people’s anxiety forces them to have anxiety or panic attacks, while some people only experience symptoms. symptoms include tremors, sweating, racing thoughts, feeling of danger, worry, increased heart rate, and hyperventilation. there are several different types of anxiety disorders. agoraphobia, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, depersonalization/derealization disorder, social anxiety, and phobias. anxiety can be quite worked on with therapy or exposure therapy. anxiety commonly affects people who have been abused, have a stressful illness, have other mental disorders, and people who frequently mix drugs and alcohol.

depression.

depression is one of the easiest mental disorders to recognize in other people. people with depression are chronically sad. tell-tale signs are feelings of sadness, feelings of hopelessness, loss of interest in hobbies, anxiety, slower thinking, agitation, irritability, and troubled thinking.

severe symptoms include an interrupted sleep pattern, thoughts of suicide, suicide attempts, and repeated thoughts of death. the suicide hotline number is 1-800-232-talk. if you ever need someone to talk to, you can dm me in my ig account (@onestoriedmind) — someone is always available to help, support and listen to you.

obsessive compulsive disorder.

obsessive-compulsive disorder is a consistent thought that something bad will happen if a repeated pattern of behavior is not completed. obsessions have themes of horrific, damaging events, pollution, sexual or religious ideas or images that come to the mind of the person. the compulsive part is a ritual pattern of behavior where an individual believes that he or she can control his or her world by repeated behavior.

bipolar affective disorder.

this disorder affects about 60 million people worldwide. it is often characterized by alternating episodes of mania and depression separated by periods of normal mood. during manic episodes, the person presents an exalted or irritable mood, hyperactivity, verbiage, high self-esteem, and a decreased need for sleep. people who present only with manic episodes and do not suffer from depressive phases are also classified within the diagnosis of bipolar disorder.

mood stabilizing medications are available to effectively address the acute phases of bipolar disorder and prevent relapses. in addition, psychosocial support is an essential element of treatment.

bipolar disorder.

bipolar disorder is characterized by emotional highs and lows and is dominated by mood swings. the high points are mania, characterized by chatty, competitive thoughts, optimistic, nervous, and easily distracted. the lows are the same as chronic depression. people with bipolar disorder may follow a treatment plan with their doctor, and sometimes medication is prescribed as a mood stabilizer.

post-traumatic stress disorder.

post-traumatic stress disorder is associated with people who have experienced childhood trauma, or a traumatic event. symptoms include recurrent memories of the traumatic event, emotional distress, nightmares, flashbacks, avoidance of speech, or triggers.
people with ptsd will feel detached, uninterested in activities, hopeless, easily frightened, always on guard, and even guilty.

eating disorders.

eating disorders are extreme manifestations of a variety of weight and food concerns experienced by women and men. eds would be classified primarily into several groups: anorexia nervosa (an), bulimia nervosa (bn), binge eating disorder (bed), eating disorder not otherwise specified (ednos), infant and childhood eating disorders (such as pica, rumination disorder, and restricting/avoiding eating disorder). these are all serious emotional problems that can have deadly consequences.

borderline personality disorder.

borderline personality disorder (bpd), or borderline, is an illness characterized by difficulty in regulating emotions. this difficulty causes marked changes in mood, impulsivity and instability, self-image problems, and unstable interpersonal relationships. there may be frantic attempts to avoid situations of real or imagined abandonment. the combined result of living with borderline disorder may manifest itself in destructive behavior, such as self-harm or suicide attempts.

narcissistic personality disorder.

people with narcissistic personality disorder have an exaggerated sense of self-worth, achievement, and require excessive attention. they may also exaggerate future successes, disregard others, be jealous, fail to recognize the feelings of others, and insist on having the best of everything. when these people fail to achieve their stated desires they become angry, agitated, and even angry. while this may not seem like an obstructive disorder, it does affect interpersonal relationships that can leave the person feeling alone.

developmental disorders, including autism.

the concept of developmental disorder is an umbrella term for intellectual disability and pervasive developmental disorders, including autism. developmental disorders usually debut in childhood but tend to persist into adulthood, causing a dysfunction or delay in the maturation of the central nervous system. they are generally not characterized by periods of remission and relapse like many other mental disorders, but follow a consistent pattern.

intellectual disabilities are manifested by impairment of faculties in various areas of development, such as cognitive skills and adaptive behavior.

the symptoms of pervasive developmental disorders, such as autism, are alterations in social behavior, communication, and language, as well as specific limitations on each individual’s interests and activities, which he or she performs repeatedly. developmental disorders usually begin in infancy or early childhood. occasionally, affected persons have a certain degree of intellectual disability.

family involvement in the care of persons with developmental disorders is essential. it is important to know the situations and activities that cause stress or bring well-being to the individual, as well as to find the most appropriate environment for learning. establishing daily routines, setting specific times for meals, play, learning, contact with others and sleep, helps to avoid unnecessary stress. it is also important for health services to regularly follow children and adults with developmental disorders and to keep in touch with their caregivers.

society at large should also be involved in ensuring that the rights and needs of people with disabilities are respected.

who can have mental disorders?

the determinants of mental health and mental illness include not only individual characteristics such as the ability to manage our thoughts, emotions, behaviours and interactions with others, but also social, cultural, economic, political and environmental factors, such as national policies, social protection, living standards, working conditions or social supports in the community.
other factors that can cause mental disorders include stress, genetic inheritance, diet, perinatal infections and exposure to environmental hazards.

things to do to overcome stigma.

here are some ways to deal with this stigma.

seek treatment. you may be reluctant to acknowledge that you need treatment. don’t let the fear of being labeled as mentally ill keep you from seeking help. treatment can provide relief by identifying the problem and reducing the symptoms that interfere with your work and personal life.

don’t let the stigma embarrass you and make you doubt yourself. stigma comes from ignorance. you may mistakenly believe that your condition is a sign of personal weakness or that you should be able to manage it on your own. seeking counseling, researching your condition, and connecting with others who have the same mental illness can help you boost your self-esteem and cope with destructive self-criticism.

don’t isolate yourself. if you have a mental illness, you may be hesitant to tell others about it. your family and friends, or members of your community can offer support if they know about your mental illness. turn to people you trust for compassion, support, and understanding of what you need. don’t equate yourself with your illness. you are not a disease. so instead of saying, “i’m bipolar,” say, “i have bipolar disorder”, instead of calling yourself “schizophrenic,” say, “i have schizophrenia.”

join a support group. some local and national groups, such as the national alliance on mental illness, offer local programs and internet resources that can help reduce stigma by educating people with mental illness, their families, and the general public.

speak out against stigma. consider expressing your opinions at events, on social networks, or on the internet. it can help instill courage in others with similar challenges and educate people about mental illness.
other people’s assessments almost always come from a lack of understanding, not from factual information.

learning to accept your condition and recognize what you need to do to treat it, seek support, and help educate others can make a big difference.

let’s end the stigma together.