Lets start off by defining Mental Health. So what is mental health? Mental health is a person’s condition with regard to their psychological and emotional well-being, examples of mental illnesses would be: Anxiety, Bipolar, Depression, Eating Disorder, Schizophrenia and substance abuse.
Causes of mental illnesses
Biology- some mental illnesses have been linked to the abnormal balance of brain chemicals called neurotransmitters( nerve cells in the brain communicate with each other ) if these chemicals are out of balance or are not working properly, messages may not make it through the brain correctly, leading to symptoms of mental illness
Environment stressors- these are caused by situations that you are put in, such as death of someone important to you, divorce, dysfunctional family life, changing schools / jobs, breakups and substance abuse. These can trigger a disorder in a person who may be at risk for developing a mental illness. (Most common for teenagers)
Psychological trauma- Some mental illnesses may be triggered by psychological trauma suffered as a child, such as severe emotional or physical abuse; a significant early loss, such as the loss of a parent and neglect.
Now lets look at how a mental illness affects a human being.
The role of a mental illness.
Behavior- mental illnesses could make a person act crazy and bizarre, it is not necessary that a person who suffers a mental illness has a change in behavior, it depends on the individual. Behavior changes could include: fatigue, sleepy, moody, hyper and OCD. Bare in mind if you have one of these that doesn't make you someone who has a mental disorder, you have to show other symptoms as well.
Thinking- You become a very slow thinker or a very fast thinker, you have difficulty following conversations, you have a hard time remembering things and day to day things stop making sense to you.
Mood- Everyone experiences a variety of moods like feeling upset, anxious or excited, and various other moods. With mental disorders, however, severe moods and mood changes often cause significant distress over time and reduce a person’s ability to function on a day to day basis.
Perception- You may experience the world with their senses (vision, smell, taste, touch, hearing) in unusual and/or strange ways ( e.g. hearing voices or exaggerated sensitivity to sound.)
Social withdrawal With some mental illnesses people begin to withdraw from family and friends. Social activities are dropped and they increase the amount of time they spend alone and prefer being in isolation.
Why is important to stay fit MENTALLY?
Just as physical fitness is important to keep your body in shape and healthy, mental fitness helps us to achieve and sustain a state of good mental health. Which then makes us happy and sociable. When we are mentally healthy, we enjoy our life and environment, and the people in it. We are able to be creative, learn, try new things, and take risks. We are better able to cope with difficult times in our personal and professional lives. We are able to deal with the anger, sadness and stress that comes with losing a loved one or a relationship, and resume all the activities that we do in our daily lives.
3 important ways to improve your mental fitness are to get physical, eat right, and take control of stress. (I'll save this for another blog)
The most common mental disorder among us teenagers would be Depression mainly. So that is what I will focus on addressing in this blog.
DEPRESSION
Sadness can be a difficult emotion to deal with, not only due to the pain it causes, but also because of the factors that caused the sadness in the first place. Sadness can be the result of loss, helplessness, or disappointment, among many other things. It is important to remember, though, that sadness is one of the most common and natural human emotions, and is something that will ultimately help us appreciate our happy times.
Sometimes, it is possible for sadness to deepen, and this may be a sign that you are suffering from a form of depression. If you feel as though you are increasingly sad, and feel like your sadness is difficult to explain, this information on depression may help.
Depression is a disorder that is evidenced by excessive sadness, loss of interest in enjoyable things, and low motivation.
It is normal to experience feelings of sadness and despair in response to adverse life events. Such events could include loss, major life changes, stress, or disappointment. In most cases, the sad feelings resolve as you come to terms with the changes in your life. In situations such as loss, these feelings may persist for months and return at significant times, such as birthdays and anniversaries related to the lost loved one. Provided you have times when you can enjoy things, however, this sadness is not a sign of depression.
Depression is common. One in three people will experience a major depressive episode at some stage in their lives. While most cases of depression are mild, about one person in ten will have a moderate or severe episode.
How to deal with it.
Talk to someone- It may seem like there’s no way your parents will be able to help and understand what you're going through, especially if they are always nagging you or getting angry about your behavior. The truth is, parents hate to see their kids hurting. They may feel frustrated because they don’t understand what is going on with you or know how to help. If you don't feel like it is appropriate for you to talk to them then find someone who is close to you, this could be your cousins, your friends, teachers, counselors or siblings. if you don't have anyone to talk to then there are many hotlines, services and support groups available. It is important for you to let someone know about how you are feeling and what is making you feeling down. No matter what, talk to someone, especially if you are having any thoughts of harming yourself or others. Asking for help is the bravest thing you can do, and the first step on your way to feeling better.
Understand the importance of accepting and sharing feelings - It can be hard to open up about how you’re feeling, especially when you’re feeling depressed, hopeless, ashamed, or worthless. It’s important to remember that many people struggle with feelings like these at one time or another. This don’t mean you’re weak, flawed, or no good. Accepting your feelings and opening up about them with someone you trust will help you feel less alone.
Similarly it is important for you to consider other people's feelings especially if the reason to your depression is from a divorce or a breakup, it is important to consider that you would be more unhappy if you were in the relationship and that it would not only be toxic to you but your partner as well.
Even though it may not feel like it at the moment, people do love and care about you. If you can muster the courage to talk about your depression, it can and will be resolved. Some people think that talking about sad feelings will make them worse, but the opposite is almost always true. It is very helpful to share your worries with someone who will listen and care about what you say. They don’t need to be able to “fix” you; they just need to be good listeners.
Try not to isolate yourself- You may not feel like seeing anybody or doing anything and some days just getting out of bed in the morning can be difficult. But isolating yourself only makes depression worse. So even if that’s the last thing you want to do, try to force yourself to stay social. As you get out into the world and connect with others, you’ll likely find yourself starting to feel better.
Spend time face-to-face with friends who make you feel good—especially those who are active, upbeat, and understanding. Avoid hanging out with those who abuse drugs or alcohol, get you into trouble, or who make you feel judged or insecure.
Get involved in activities you enjoy (or used to). Getting involved in extracurricular activities may be the last thing you feel like doing when you’re depressed, but you’ll feel better if you do. Choose something you’ve enjoyed in the past, whether it be a sport, an art, dance or music class, or an after-school club. You might not feel motivated at first, but as you start to participate again, your mood and enthusiasm will begin to lift.
Volunteer. Doing things for others is a powerful antidepressant and happiness booster. volunteering for a cause you believe in can help you feel reconnected to others and the world, and give you the satisfaction of knowing you’re making a difference.
Cut back on your social media use. While it may seem that losing yourself online will temporarily ease depression symptoms, it can actually make you feel even worse. Comparing yourself unfavorably with your peers on social media, for example, only promotes feelings of depression and isolation. Remember: people always exaggerate the positive aspects of their lives online, brushing over the doubts and disappointments that we all experience. And even if you’re just interacting with friends online, it’s no replacement for in-person contact. Eye to eye contact, a hug, or even a simple touch on the arm from a friend can make all the difference to how you’re feeling.
Adopt healthy habits- this would include habits such as: Exercising, Eating healthy, Avoiding drugs and getting a good amount of sleep.
Managing your stress-
If exams or classes seem overwhelming, for example, talk to a teacher or school counselor, or find ways of improving your time management
.If you have a health concern you feel you can’t talk to your parents about—such as a pregnancy scare or drug problem seek medical attention at a clinic or see a doctor, if you are a student still in school and can't afford to pay for medical help, look for free clinics near you or home clinics. A health professional can guide you towards appropriate treatment (and help you approach your parents if that’s necessary).
If you’re struggling to fit in or dealing with relationship, friendship, or family difficulties, talk your problems over with your school counselor or a professional therapist.
Exercise, meditation, muscle relaxation, and breathing exercises are other good other ways to deal with stress.If your own negative thoughts and chronic worrying are contributing to your everyday stress levels, you can take steps to break these habits and regain control of your worrying mind.
My opinion on mental health would be that it's life and you should't let things get to you, yes life can be difficult at times and sometimes you end up in situations you don't want to be in but if you tackle it with the right mindset and a positive attitude nothing should get in between you and a healthy mental life. Keep in mind that hard times don't stay forever. Its on you to take things as positively as you can and move on from whatever has caused you pain and unhappiness.
I hope this was helpful, thanks to my readers who suggested that I address this topic. Please do let me know if this was helpful using the contact section (personal) or comment section (public) below. I would love to know your thoughts and opinions. Feel free to talk to me on any of my social media platforms listed on my website.
Stay tuned till next time.
Asmita xx
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