MENTAL HEALTH DAY

Mental illnesses– definition: A wide range of mental conditions that affect mood, thinking, and behavior. But what does that mean? Are you entirely aware of what a mental illness is? Does it scare you? Before I educated myself on exactly what a mental illness is, I have to admit, it scared me too.

The crazy thing is, in today’s society, 1 in every 4 people suffer from some sort of mental disorder. Like anyone, I’ve been surrounded by a variety of people, battling different things.

And I’ve taken notice of how so many people are dealing with mental issues that I had never heard of before. From the more commonly known ones like anxiety and depression, to the ones that you might not have been aware of like panic disorder and body dysmorphia, there are people all around us who suffer in silence. But what baffles me the most is how little our society takes notice of how common and severe issues like these are.

From a general standpoint, all you need to know is that a mental illness is no different from a physical one. Certain things can trigger it, it takes time to heal, sometimes it can’t be treated, it’s not the person’s fault, and ultimately– it can drain you.

Obviously each illness has its own specifics and for that you’ll have to do some research of your own, but generally they occur when certain chemicals in the brain are either missing or not properly working. Think about it like how when your stomach is hurting, you know that one of the systems in your body isn’t properly functioning. Just as you would take medication to help your body out, some people have to take medication to help their minds out.

There are multiple medicines out there that work better for different people, so not every anxiety or depression medication is going to work for everyone battling these illnesses. That’s what makes these kinds of disorders so difficult to overcome– there is no simple quick fix like there is for your tummy not feeling so good.

Dealing with a mental illness myself, I’ve learned how hard it is to manage and how ignorant some people are. It’s irritating and ignorant when people loosely use the phrases “ugh I’m so depressed” or “I’m so OCD it’s insane” because are they aware of what they’re suggesting? Do they know what people who suffer from these illnesses live with on a daily basis?

I’ll be the first to admit I’ve said things that I’m not proud of, jokingly talking about topics I know nothing about. But I’ll also be the first to admit that it’s never too late to change, become informed and become someone who is understanding and not scared.

I’m sick of people using mental illnesses as characteristics for their personality descriptions, as should you. Don’t be afraid to stand up for what you believe in because if you suffer from anything that people take too lightly– not only mental illnesses– it’s sure as hell something you should fight for.

People find comfort in labels because it helps them cope with the fact that this world is far from normal. In fact, “normalcy” is a fabrication. There is no normal, but people feel a need to establish black and white lines to help them cope with the unexplainable and intangible. One can touch a cut, but one can’t touch a mental illness. People fear the inaccessible.

If more people were made aware of these issues, the commonality and severity of them, the world would be a better place. If society were better informed, people would be more understanding and it could make those who suffer from these illnesses feel less alone.

So be one of those people. Be the person your friend can talk to when he’s feeling anxious rather than someone who can’t possibly understand– take five minutes out of your day to do some research and even learn something new. Be someone who’s aware and not ignorant so when you run into 1 of those every 4 people, they won’t have to suffer in silence or feel alone. Who knows, one night when you have a big day ahead of you and you’re too anxious to fall asleep, maybe they can help you too.

Just as our stomachs sometimes hurt too much to go to school, work, or simply take on the day, our brains at times can hurt too. So give yourself a break, take a breath and remember that every once in a while, it’s important to take a mental health day.