12 Mar Mental Health…. End the Stigma

“What mental health needs is more sunlight, more candor, and more unashamed conversation.” – Glenn Close

Mental Health…. End the Stigma 

Why the stigma? 

“Mental illness is nothing to be ashamed of. It is a medical problem, just like heart disease or diabetes. Mental illnesses are health conditions involving changes in emotion, thinking or behavior (or a combination of these). Mental illnesses are associated with distress and/or problems functioning in social, work or family activities. Mental illness is common. 

In a given year: nearly one in five (19 percent) U.S. adults experience some form of mental illness

one in 24 (4.1 percent) has a serious mental illness*

one in 12 (8.5 percent) has a diagnosable substance use disorder

Mental illness is treatable. The vast majority of individuals with mental illness continue to function in their daily lives.”

No one should be ashamed to talk about their mental health. But today it is regarded as taboo. And there is no reason for that. You can talk about health issues and such but not mental illness. Let’s change that. Let me start by talking about my mental illness struggles and maybe others will share their stories too. 

I have always battled with anxiety and depression but once I gave birth to my daughter, it intensified. She was a preemie being born three months early. My mind did not know whether to be happy, sad, or scared. So, my mind tried to process all my emotions at the same time. As time went on and my daughter came home from the NICU, she needed so much care and let’s not forget all the therapy and doctor’s appointments. Needless to say, I was overly stressed out and overwhelmed. And I also had a two-year-old at home whom had Autism. The years went by and I stayed untreated. I tried to manage all my symptoms by myself by ignoring them and having breakdowns. Then I could not hide the symptoms any longer. I had a breakdown in my doctor’s office and she sent me to a psychiatrist, and he found me a therapist. That is when my healing truly began. I was diagnosed as bipolar, severe OCD, and having Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder. Now I am on medication and all my symptoms are manageable. Once I got the help I needed, I became a better partner, friend, and mother. 

Do not be afraid to get help and talk about your story. You never know how you can make a difference in someone’s life. Sometimes you can be the difference between life and death. 

Sources

https://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/stop-stigma-12-inspiring-quotes-about-mental-health-0512187

https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/what-is-mental-illness

https://www.kgun9.com/news/mental-illness/ending-the-mental-health-stigma