In recent years, public awareness of mental health has
soared. People are beginning to understand the value of caring for their
emotional and mental well-being as much as they would for their physical health
after decades of unwarranted stigma. Find out more about mental health,
including how to support your own sense of psychological balance and
contentment.
What Is Mental Health?
Your emotional and psychological well-being and stability
are referred to as your mental health. When nothing is wrong with your physical
health, it's easy to overlook your mental health. Even so, when something goes
wrong, it's difficult to think of anything else. People may experience problems
with their psychological wellness due to mood, personality, or substance use
disorders. Professional assistance and treatment can help in these situations.
Why Is Mental Health Important?
Mental health is critical to your overall well-being as a
human being. When you have a mental health problem, your quality of life
suffers. In such cases, some people turn to substance abuse as a form of
self-medication. Others commit self-harm or have suicidal thoughts. In short,
these "invisible illnesses" impose a significant burden on those who
suffer from them.
Mental health treatment has long been stigmatized. Many
people used to think that admitting to having mental or emotional problems was
a sign of weakness. Since then, an increasing number of people have recognized
the folly of this assumption. Because your brain is an organ like any other,
treating depression or anxiety is no different than treating heart disease or
cancer.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the US
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and the World Health
Organization (WHO) have all led initiatives emphasizing the importance of
mental health and suicide prevention.
What Is a Mental Health Disorder?
A mental health disorder is a psychological or emotional
problem that interferes with your basic quality of life. For example, you may
feel incapable of dealing with life's stresses or notice a significant decrease
in your social well-being. While it can be difficult to define what constitutes
mental normalcy in the first place, disorders are easy to identify due to the
extreme anguish they can cause those who suffer from them.
Types of Mental Health Disorders
There are numerous mental health conditions that can have a
negative impact on a person's well-being. Consider the following types of
mental disorders:
1. Body dysmorphia: People who suffer from body dysmorphia
have an irrational and unrealistic view of their physical selves. It is common
for people to develop eating disorders in order to cope with their weight
issues. By encouraging a more accepting society, the body positivity movement
hopes to reduce the likelihood of people developing these disorders. This
condition is also notable for the high prevalence of occurrence among
adolescents.
2. Obsessive-compulsive disorder: This disorder causes
people to over-ritualize their behaviours. Someone may believe that they must
wash their hands ten times in a row before they are clean. Another person may
feel incapable of performing even basic tasks unless their daily routine is
perfected. People suffering from OCD can benefit from mental health treatment.
3. Mood disorders: People may develop mood-related
conditions as a result of both environmental and biological factors. Anxiety
disorders cause people to feel excessive fear or stress, whereas depressive
conditions such as bipolar disorder can cause profound despair. Anxiety and
depression are also significant risk factors for developing substance abuse
problems.
4. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): People who have
been through traumatic events are more likely to develop PTSD. Little triggers
can cause them to relive their worst moments as if they were happening for the
first time. Treatment, as with other mental health issues, can help reduce the
severity of this disorder.
5. Schizophrenia: This type of psychosis causes people to
have hallucinations and hear voices that aren't there. Early warning signs of
this mental illness usually appear in adolescence. Caregivers can assist those
suffering from this diagnosis in achieving a sense of stability.
Tips to Improve Mental Wellbeing
Good mental health care can help you both prevent the
development of certain disorders and alleviate any problems you are currently
experiencing. Here are a few pointers to help you improve your personal mental
health:
1. Seek assistance. When you are struggling with your mental
health, seek help from family members, friends, and loved ones. They can assist
you in regaining your full potential while you seek professional help from
mental health services such as therapy.
2. Take care of yourself. Be gentle with yourself as you learn to live with your illness. Self-help books should be read. Exercise mindfulness. Take care of your overall health while also focusing on your mental and emotional health. Eating well and exercising, for example, are just as important for coping with stress and other negative emotions as they are for staying fit.
3. Consult a mental health professional. Meet with a qualified mental health care provider to discuss your concerns. Psychotherapy (weekly sessions with a psychologist) and psychiatry (receiving medication for mental health issues) may both be beneficial. By reading fact sheets about mental health issues online, you can avoid self-diagnosis.
