In this new age, millennials are more aware of mental health, but are we going to a psychologist or psychiatrist to seek the help and support we want? "Your health is your wealth", is a famous saying by Mahatma Gandhi, and it refers to the importance of health. If you aren't healthy, this means you don't feel in the state of physical, mental, and social well being. Our health is real wealth; we should always try to be healthy.
According to mentalhealth.gov, "Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being." Mental health affects how we think, feel, and act. Overall, our mental health can determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. In this stage of life, our mental health is very important, from childhood, adolescence, and through adulthood. Your mental health matters, and it's something that you should make your priority. If you experience mental health problems throughout your life, your thinking, mood, and behavior may be affected. Mentalhealth.gov also states that, "several factors that contribute to mental health problems include: biological factors, such as genes or brain chemistry, life experiences, such as trauma or abuse, and family history of mental health problems."
Why do people often neglect mental illness? A vital reason is the stigma connected with mental illness. It can be a social stigma or the perceived/self-stigma.“Many people feel embarrassed or ashamed of their symptoms because our society places illogical taboos on mental health issues over physical conditions,” said clinical psychologist Nikki Massey-Hastings, PsyD. Despite the mental health stigma that exist, mental health problems are common, but help is also available. I'm here to reassure you that it's okay to ask for help. Being a free thinking society, we have the power and responsibility to eliminate the stigma, which can be attained by increasing the willingness to talk about mental health problems, and change people's perceptions. We need to recognize the importance of mental health and well-being, talking about anxiety, depression, and distress or any other form of mental illness. People who have mental health problems can get better and many people recover quickly. If you're unsure if you or someone you know may be living with mental health problems, it's essential that you pay attention to the early warning signs.
Early Warning Signs:
- Eating or sleeping too much or too little
- Pulling away from people and usual activities
- Having low or no energy
- Feeling numb or like nothing matters
- Having unexplained aches and pains
- Feeling helpless or hopeless
- Smoking, drinking, or using drugs more than usual
- Feeling unusually confused, forgetful, on edge, angry, upset, worried, or scared
- Yelling or fighting with family and friends
- Experiencing severe mood swings that cause problems in relationships
- Having persistent thoughts and memories you can't get out of your head
- Hearing voices or believing things that are not true
- Thinking of harming yourself or others
- Inability to perform daily tasks like taking care of your kids or getting to work or school
Reaching Out For Help:
Mental health issues can affect people differently, if you start noticing changes in your overall happiness and relationships, ways to get the support you want are always available. Here are some ways to seek help:
Mental health issues can affect people differently, if you start noticing changes in your overall happiness and relationships, ways to get the support you want are always available. Here are some ways to seek help:
- Connect with family and loved ones- reaching out and opening up to other people in your life can help provide emotional support.
- Educate yourself more about mental health- many resources are available for learning more about mental health. Such as, Psychology Today, National Institute of Mental Health, and Anxiety and Depression Association of America
- Talk to a professional- If you're feeling like your emotional health is starting to impact you, it may be time to reach out for some extra support. By using Doctor On Demand, you can find a psychologist or psychiatrist and find the personalized support you want.
Mental Health & Wellness:
You can take steps to improve your mental health, by doing simple things like exercising, eating balanced and nutritional meals, opening up to people you're close to, taking a break when you feel the need to, remembering the things in your life that you're grateful for, and getting a good night's rest, are just some things that can be helpful in revitalizing your emotional & mental health.
- Getting professional help if you need it
- Connecting with others
- Staying positive
- Getting physically active
- Helping others
- Getting enough sleep
- Developing coping skills
If you would like to get more information about the importance of mental health and the importance of prevention and wellness, visit these links below.
Article Sources:
http://www.mentalhealth.gov/basics/what-is-mental-health
https://psychcentral.com/blog/what-prevents-people-from-seeking-mental-health-treatment/
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