Lets Talk About Mental Health
Let’s Talk About Mental Health
Mental health.
Everybody experiences some sort of mental health challenge within their lifetime. Whether it’s anxiety, panic attacks, or phobias. We all experience it.
However, for the longest time, there have been all sorts of stigmas when it comes to this stuff; and while Western society has been working hard to fight this stigma, the fight is far from over. A lot of people still suffer in silence, fearing to come out about their depressions, anxieties, and other disorders. This fear prevents individuals from getting the help that they need. Mental health disorders range drastically. Some of them barely impact an individual's life, and some can be a focal point of one's existence. However, no matter where you are on this spectrum, it’s always good to be aware of it and acknowledge its presence.
Here are some examples of more common conditions:
Anxiety disorder: Anxiety is a natural response of our bodies to stress. It’s a fear of things that might happen or things to come. The uncertainty about the future. However, if the anxiety you experience is extreme and/or interferes with your life, you may have something called an “anxiety disorder”. These disorders are the most common ones and can affect anybody at any age. Anxiety disorders are broken into multiple groups.
Here are a few examples:
Phobias. Originating from the Latin word “Phobos”. Fear. Phobias are fears of specific objects, situations, activities, etc. For instance Arachnophobia-fear of spiders. Every single person experiences some sort of phobia and it often stems from childhood experiences.
Panic disorder. Experiencing panic attacks at random times. Some of the signs that you are having a panic attack are hyperventilation, increased heart rate, irrational fear, nausea, tremors, and chest pains. People who experience panic attacks often feel like they are dying or are about to die.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Irrational and unwanted thoughts that make a person's life uncomfortable or challenging. An individual might be extremely compelled to do irrational acts to prevent some sort of an elusive threat. Cleaning your room constantly (to an extreme) to avoid the spread of germs, is a good example of the compulsive part of OCD. Always thinking that your friends and family secretly hate you, would be an example of an obsessive part of OCD. People with this condition may realize that their thoughts/actions are irrational, but they can’t help it.
Social anxiety disorder (SAD). Have you ever been scared of performing in front of a group of people? That is what social anxiety is all about. Being scared of being judged by others in social situations. Now the fear of being judged is a common thing; however, it is considered a disorder when it heavily interferes with your life. In more severe cases, a person may be too anxious to leave their own house, because of fear of social interactions.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This is severe anxiety followed by a traumatic event in one's past. People with PTSD usually have some sort of “triggers” that bring back the memories of traumatic events. These memories come in the forms of flashbacks, vivid memories, or just feelings of general distress. People can also experience a range of unpleasant emotions like feelings of worthlessness or guilt, loss of interest in once-beloved activities, bouts of anger, etc.
These are just some of the examples of disorders that come with anxiety. As you can tell, they intertwine with each other and may be directly connected to one another. This makes it somewhat challenging to diagnose which exact one a person might have. So instead of taking one test, it may be a lengthy process consisting of different tests and talks with a therapist; however, once diagnosed and treated, the quality of life of an individual significantly improves.
That’s why you should always be respectful and mindful of people and never judge. You don’t know what another person is experiencing and you don’t want to make them feel uncomfortable or feel judged.
If you or anyone you know may be experiencing some sort of challenge, it’s always good to consult a professional or just talk to someone in general. So let’s fight this stigma together and provide everyone with the treatment that they need and deserve.