Mental Illness- Let’s talk about the myths
Regarding mental illness, depression is one of the leading causes of disability across the globe. “In low- and middle-income countries, between 76% and 85% of people with mental disorders receive no treatment for their disorder.”
People are currently talking about mental illness more and more, which is great as it encourages people to be more open to talking about personal issues and asking for help!
However, there is still a lot of stigma about mental illness and myths regarding mental illness.
Below are some myths about mental illness
Myth 1: You cant develop a mental illness without having a chemical imbalance
No. Life events can increase the risk of one developing a mental illness. PTSD is one of them.
What is PTSD?
PTSD represents Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that may occur in those who have witnessed distressing events. Individuals with PTSD will have disturbing thoughts related to the fearful event and other symptoms including recurrent memories of the traumatic event, and their own accord of the event may be difficult to recall (NSPCC, 2019).
Everyone exposed to trauma can develop PTSD.
Symptoms include:
- Flashbacks of the event that created the trauma (This is also called re-experiencing)
- Nightmares
- Physical sensations due to the thought of anxiety, i.e. sweating
- Problems sleeping.
What is a chemical imbalance?
A chemical imbalance is when there is either too much or too little of chemicals that enable your brain to communicate with your body to the best of your ability. An imbalance of chemicals particularly, neurotransmitters can lead to tiredness, mood swings, inability to concentrate and more.
Myth 2: People with mental illness can not work
Not true. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), “It has been estimated that 20% of the adult working population has
some mental health problem at any given time.”
Imagine that! That is A LOT of people. Many people with mental illness can work. Today, many workplaces have implemented new policies to cater to employees’ differing needs; that support them to work to the best of their ability.
Besides, staff can take a ‘mental health day’ if necessary. This can help you distress, re-evaluate what has caused you to stress and trigger mental health day and most importantly, have time to practice self-care.
If you need inexpensive self-care ideas, check out my latest post: 30 Affordable Self-Care Ideas To Try Now!
With the use of self-care, coping mechanisms, and in some cases, maybe medication can enable people with mental illness to work. Many workplaces have implemented strategies, policies to create a suitable environment with those with a mental disorder.
Myth 3: You can’t prevent mental illness
Hmm. This one is interesting. Let’s be very clear; mental illness does not discriminate.
Risk factors are things that will increase the risk of developing a mental illness. These can include:
Genetics
Having someone in your family, i.e. parents and siblings with mental disorders such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, has a higher chance of developing a disorder than someone who does not have the disorder in their family. HOWEVER, protective factors also play a role in reducing the onset of mental illness, but developing a mental illness is both to nature and nurture. More on this later.
Lifestyle factors
Not exercising
Exercising is so so key. Exercising produces chemicals which help to boost your mood. Check out my post on why exercising is essential for your mental health.
Having healthy habits is key for your self-care and overall wellbeing; exercising is essential to add to your lifestyle. If you need tips on how to actually enjoy exercising, make sure to read Sarah’s post from The Good Thing is Though: How To Make Exercise A Happy Habit.
Unemployment
Not working is very taxing and overwhelming, especially when you have responsibilities and bills to pay. According to experts, “unemployment depression” occurs when the lack of a job impacts your mental health. During the first lockdown in the UK, I too lost my job, which impacted me greatly. If you would like to know more, do check out my Youtube video below.
Trauma
Being exposed to trauma, such as abuse, war, accidents and so on, can increase the risk of developing mental health conditions such as PTSD. With little social support after the trauma, the symptoms of mental illness can arise.
Lack of support system
We all need someone to turn to in our time of need. Talking about symptoms, your experiencing can help to identify triggers and seek ways to cope with the trauma. Therapy is an option for people to find coping mechanisms to relieve symptoms and improve their life quality.
Alternatively, protective factors can influence characteristics in an individual’s environment or personal factors, which reduces the risk of developing a mental disorder.
These may include:
- Having a support system
- If a person has experienced trauma, receiving therapy will help them manage their own thought patterns and behaviour.
- Having a balanced lifestyle: exercising, practising self-care and having a balanced diet.
Myth 4: You can’t get better without medication
Not true. Although medication has tremendous benefits for some, it doesn’t work for all. For some people, medication isn’t the only option. Therapy services have grown substantially over the years.
You can receive different types of therapy from couples counselling to cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).
Last year, I talked to my doctor and was referred to a therapist. It turns out; I was experiencing anxiety and depression symptoms: moderate and severe symptoms at that.
Thereafter, I made a self-referral to a counselling therapy service in my local area. Fast forward, I received several sessions of online cognitive behavioural therapy.
In addition, if you would like to know more about my experience of CBT, click here.
All in all, there is still some stigma regarding medication.
Side effects of medication can include weight gain, loss of sex drives, nausea and more. Most mental illness medications have side effects. Although everyone is different; some may not experience extreme side effects and others may not.
In contrast, by taking medication, it can enable those with mental illness to live their life to the best of their ability.
Myth 5: Young people can’t develop a mental illness
Some Mental disorder has no age restrictions. There have been many cases of very young children developing mental disorders.
As stated by WHO, “Half of all mental health conditions start by 14 years of age, but most cases are undetected and untreated.” Furthermore, “Suicide is the third leading cause of death in 15-19-year-olds.”
Young people are also under stress; similarly to all age groups. Life events can contribute to the deterioration of young people’s mental wellbeing.
Exam stress, parents divorcing, bullying…these are just some of the things that young people may experience.
Take away
Once we continue to discuss to learn and talk about mental illness, we will have more understanding of signs, symptoms and how to support those with mental health disorders.
What myths have you heard about mental illness?
I would like to know.
Thank you for reading.
Take care and stay safe.
XO
Good post!
Thank you for reading!
I love this post!!! You’re right, even though people are having more discussions about mental illness, there’s still an underlying stigma there.
The myth that bothers me the most is that you have to have a “good reason” to have a mental illness. If there’s no apparent reason? Well you’re just weak.
First of all, it’s not fair to assume someone hasn’t gone through trauma – someone’s traumatic experience doesn’t have to be public knowledge for their mental illness to be completely valid.
Secondly, having a mental illness doesn’t mean someone’s weak. If anything, it takes extraordinary strength to face this world with that baggage!!!
Thank you for such a great write-up – this is something we all should be open about.
Thank you! Oh my gosh, I agree with that. No one on is this planet is weak for developing a mental illness. I believe they are strong for continuing to fight the battle; it is not easy! Thank you for taking the time to read my post.
I suffered from depression pretty bad just a few years ago. I still have thoughts pop into my head now and then, ones similar to those that I lived everyday with back then. Coming out of it, I just wish more people understood what it’s like, and how to deal with people who have depression or another mental illness. Telling them to “just get over it” accomplishes absolutely nothing.
Thank you for sharing your story. I am glad that you feel better. Yes, “just get over it” is very insensitive and dismissive! Hopefully, people will realise that their words are hurtful. Thanks for reading my post.
Thanks for sharing this blog. Hope it reaches millions to help debunk the myths of mental health
It’s incredible how many faces mental illness truly has and mind boggling that so many of us think we know what it looks like. Grear article. Thank you for sharing.
Indeed. Sometimes, we think what it may be like, but it can be totally different. Thank you for reading!