“We need to shine the light on mental health and mental illness to help those who may be struggling to know they are not alone and to reduce the stigma which is still prevalent in our society today" ~Cassie~
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Five most common questions answered.
If you don't feel in the mood to read you can just sit back, press play and watch the video instead.
Lets talk about everything mental health related by getting back to basics.
What is mental health? Some people call mental health emotional health or wellbeing. Mental health is a level of psychological wellbeing which can vary over the years, and with the ups and down's of life. We all need to look after our mental health as it is just important to our wellbeing as our physical health is. Poor mental health can effect anyone. WHO (World Health Organisation) says: "mental health is a state of well-being in which the individual realises his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community, it is not just the absence of mental disorder".
What is mental health illness? People who have a mental health illness can experience difficulties in the way they think, feel or behave. This can significantly affect their relationships, work and quality of life. It is known many mental health conditions are caused by a combination of genetic, biological, psychological, social and environmental factors.
How common are mental health disorders? Either you or someone you know may have a mental health illness, they are more common than you think. The World health Organisation (WHO) reports: In a given year one quarter of adults are diagnosable for one or more mental health disorders, 10% of children have a mental health issue at any one time and approximately 450 million people currently suffer from mental health illness, 91 million people are affected by alcohol use disorders and 15 million by drug use disorders, placing mental health disorders among the leading causes of ill-health and disability world wide.
Mental health disorders are fairly common so why do many people feel uncomfortable talking about mental health illness? Nearly two-thirds of people with a known mental health illness never seek help from a health professional.Many people do not like talking about their mental health illness for fear of being stigmatised, judged, ridiculed or even rejected. Many people try and hide their symptoms and do not seek help due to stigma and discrimination. If a mental health illness goes untreated it can put the person at high risk of self harm and suicide. It is very important for people who are suffering with mental health illness to reach out and seek help as with the right education, treatment, knowledge and care it is possible to step into recovery and lead a happy, meaningful, productive life.
How can we break this vicious cycle of stigma and discrimination? As a society we can help by being more open about our mental health experiences. With knowledge comes understanding which can help to reduce stigma and discrimination and the power to improve our mental health and well-being. We need to educate ourselves including our children about mental health as much as we do our physical health, learn how mental illness can effect a person and their loved ones, how to spot early warning signs of a mental health illness, how to seek help and how to help ourselves or someone we may know.
If you struggle with balancing your emotions or indeed live with emotional dysregulation then you may find this post of some interest. Please note some people may find this post triggering. If you don’t feel in the mood to read you can just sit back, press play and watch the video instead. Many people who suffer from a mental health disorder can suffer from emotional dysregulation issues for many different reasons. It is said this symptom is not exclusive to Emotional Unstable Personality Disorder also known as Borderline Personality Disorder, many people who live with mental illness can suffer from this. This post covers what emotional dysregulation is, my experiences and how I cope with it. Please remember that we are all different and unique, some people may relate and other’s may not, so please do not use my post as a diagnostic tool. What is Emotional Dysregulation? Emotional Dysregulation refers to a person who finds it difficult to control or regulate their emotions to int
It is easy to confuse Bipolar Disorder 2 with Borderline Personality Disorder -BPD (often known as Emotional Unstable Personality Disorder) as they are very similar. Differentiating between the two can be difficult even psychiatrists can find this tricky. However although they are very similar they are also very different too, and have different treatments. Bipolar 2 disorder is characterised by extreme mood swings. These can range from highs (hypomania) to extreme lows (depression). Episodes of hypomania and depression often last for several weeks or months. Hypomania: Elevated mood, decreased need for sleep (feels rested after only a couple of hours sleep), inflated self-esteem, racing thoughts, impulsivity, more talkative than normal or pressure to keep talking, distractibility. Depression: Fatigue, sleeping to much or to little, loss of interest, hopeless outlook, changes in appetite (eating too much or not enough), suicidal ideation and self harm , irrit
Depression is becoming more and more understood due to many factors such as the rise of people being affected by it or by knowing loved ones, family and friends who have had to battle with these symptoms, campaigns challenging the stigma and people openly talking about their illness. When hearing the word depression many people associate it with a clinical diagnosis such as bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder etc. Depression does not only affect people who have a clinical diagnosis. Situational depression can affect people who do not live with a clinical mental health illness too. Dr. Gronley Say's; Typically major stressors in life will bring on situational depression such as a divorce, death of a loved one, loss of a job, the economy or any factors that will negatively affect your life. Situational depression is always accompanied by traumatic events or stressful situations and will typically be short lived or continue with the presence of these events. SD can be
Very well stated.
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