We share the details of our physical lives so willingly: our latest diet, a family member struggling with heart disease. But when it comes to mental illness, everything is under wraps. The shame and stigma surrounding mental health issues, such as bipolar disorder and anxiety, are the biggest obstacles when it comes to getting help.
The truth is, mental illness is isolating for both the person with mental illness and those close to them. It makes everyone uncomfortable. “When someone breaks their arm, we rush to sign their cast. When someone is diagnosed with mental illness, we run the other way.” It’s time we started looking at mental health the same way we do physical health. With this post I would like to discuss something that affects all of us in one way or another. Mental Health! It’s a subject that everyone should be talking about, not be embarrassed or ashamed about. It needs to be talked about! Whether you struggle with a mental illness, or someone in your family does, or maybe you personally don’t know someone – it’s all over the news, and on the streets. Let’s talk about it, the more it’s discussed the less people will be embarrassed or ashamed when the words come out. And the more it will have an impact on people. Choosing the right mix of treatments and supports that work for you is an important step in the recovery process. Treatment choices for mental health conditions will vary from person to person. Even people with the same diagnosis will have different experiences, needs, goals and objectives for treatment. There is no “one size fits all” treatment. Help your friend or loved one find the right coping skills and treatments; Don`t blame them for having the condition; it`s not their fault. Every day, everywhere, a Lot of people are struggling, and we don`t know it. A simple "Hello, how are you doing ?" can change the whole day of someone, and let them feel better.
Mental illness is just like any chronic physical condition. It can be managed with counseling and/or medication, and there will be both good and bad days. As debilitating as mental illness can be, it isn’t–and shouldn’t be–the defining characteristic of a person any more than, say, being allergic to pollen or having high blood pressure should be. We need to do something about the stigma; first step is to talk about it. -Rebecca
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