The latest statistics have shown that more than ten percent of the world’s population suffers from at least one type of mental illness, and since the pandemic started, this number has drastically increased. The most common types of mental health issues include depression, anxiety, along with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and eating disorders.
Even though these are some of the most common ones, there are dozens of others that can be more or lesser known to the general public. Even though the world is advancing by the day, we are still surrounded by many myths and untruths that come with mental health, and many people believe in things that are not true. In this article, we are going to talk about some of the common stigmas that are connected to this type of disease, and we will try to give you more information on why each of these is not true.
Know that by educating yourself and the people around you, you can know how to provide primary help to people who suffer from these illnesses, and you will know how to provide a safe environment for your friends and loved ones.
People can easily overcome them
This is the thing that many people believe is true – if someone is suffering from depression, anxiety, or anything similar, they should just think positive thoughts, and they will overcome the problem. This is completely false, and no matter how much the patient focuses on getting better, they cannot just miraculously overcome the disease overnight.
The easiest way to draw a parallel between “believable” diseases and mental issues is like telling a person who suffers from asthma to focus on breathing and that they will suddenly stop having asthma. These problems are not something that can be treated with the power of positive thought, and when you disregard the feelings others have, you can make them feel even worse and they will try to hide their symptoms even more.
Every person has the same symptoms
The next thing we are going to talk about is symptoms. Let’s talk about anxiety, for example, some people may experience just sweaty hands and increased heartbeat, while others will have panic attacks, they won’t be able to focus, and they may even experience trouble breathing.
The most important thing you need to remember is that these problems are different for everyone, and depending on the type of their condition, some people may experience severe symptoms, while others will have mild. Just because one person has it worse than the other, it does not mean that we can dismiss the emotions people with milder symptoms have.
They will subside on their own
Another stigma that is really common is that people should just wait for the problem out, and it will subside on its own. This could happen to some people, and in some extremely rare cases, people will deal with the disease without having to seek proper treatment. However, this is extremely uncommon, and more often than not, just waiting for the condition to subside on its own is going to lead to much bigger problems.
According to symmetrycounsellingservices.ca, treatment and help are available for people who are suffering from any of these conditions including anxiety and depression, and the sooner you seek help, the better it is going to be for you in the long run.
There are a lot of trained professionals who can help you cope with your symptoms, they can guide you on how to understand your disease better, and they will do everything they can to give you the proper treatment.
The person is just faking and looking for attention
Everyone who’s ever suffered from this type of problem has been accused that they are actually faking it and that they are just looking for attention. One thing that you should remember is that people who are going through mental health issues are more likely to fake being okay, than to fake being ill. If someone comes to you looking for help, they are not looking for attention.
It is extremely difficult to live with a condition that is surrounded by so much stigma, and people who choose to talk about it are extremely brave. You should never blame someone that they are just wanting to be heard, and if someone opens themselves up to you, you should take them seriously.
People cannot lead a normal life
Living a normal life is not off the table even if you suffer from a chronic mental health problem. Even though there is no known cure for most of these problems, they can still be managed, and the symptoms can be held under control.
If you are one of the almost billion people who are struggling to live with depression, anxiety, eating disorders, or anything similar, you should know that there are a lot of ways to help yourself and to lead a good-quality life.
People who are living with these conditions can have a close group of friends, they can have stable relationships, form families, and they can have a normal working life. All of these things are possible, no matter the disease, and no matter the severity of it. In most cases, the individuals need to work closely with a therapist, have a good support system, and in some cases, proper medication can make a lot of difference.
The most important thing when it comes to these conditions is support, so no matter if you are living with this type of disease, or if you know someone who is to look for support and be there for the other person. Unfortunately, not everyone in your close circle is going to understand your problems, and there are going to be people who still believe in these stigmas, but that does not mean that your feelings are any less valid.
Talk to the people who know what you are going through, and know that there are always going to be those who understand you and who are going to be there for you. There are thousands of groups online where you can find like-minded people that can become your inner circle. Remember that you should seek professional help and that there are therapists that can help you battle the symptoms much easier.
