Why do so many of us live with our mental health struggles alone?
We wouldn’t do this with our physical health.
If we felt physically unwell, we would probably visit our doctor. If we injured ourselves in an accident, we wouldn’t hesitate about calling the hospital. But our mental health? Too many of us neglect this aspect of our lives, and rather than asking for help; we bear the burden alone.
Why?
Well, we might assume other people would think we were ‘crazy’ if we visited a mental health professional. Or we might assume other people would see our poor mental health as an inherent weakness within ourselves. We might also worry that other people would fail to understand, perhaps concerned they would tell us to ‘snap out of it’ if we explained our depression, or that they would say “you have nothing to worry about” if we talked about our anxieties.
So, instead, we tell nobody.
And therein lies the problem. When we are left to our own devices, we can fall prey to bad habits because of our low moods and depressive feelings. We can turn to cigarettes, drugs, and alcohol. We can sit in front of the television, comfort eating our blues away. And while these short-term fixes might seem helpful, they ultimately hurt us further, because as our physical health takes a knock, our mental state will deteriorate in tandem.
Today then, if you have spotted signs of poor mental health, don’t suffer alone. Those symptoms will only get worse, and you might then fall into bad habits, greater depression, and even thoughts about suicide.
Instead, look for those people that you know will be supportive and understanding. Your family and friends might listen to how you feel, help you find positivity, and give you advice on where you might need to look for help.
Look for professional help too. Your doctor should be your first port of call, and he or she might advise therapy and counseling. An online search will also bring you into contact with internet therapists, community support groups, mental health helplines, and more.
Consider any further specialist help you might need. So, if you have fallen into an addiction problem, for example, do a Google search for a local drug, alcohol, or meth detox center to get you onto the road to recovery. And if you are afraid about approaching these places alone, seek the assistance of a friend or family member to make the relevant appointments for you.
You see, if you are suffering from a mental health problem, it is important that you know you are not alone. According to statistics, 1 in every 5 of us experiences some form of mental illness in any given year. So, don’t let it be a stigma. Don’t assume people will think you are weak. Chances are, your neighbor, best friend, work colleague, and family member, have suffered in some way too.
The sooner you ask for help, the sooner you will be back to yourself again, and you will start to approach life in a more positive way. Find the relevant people, or ask others to find them for you, and suffer from your poor mental health in silence no more.
Take care, and thanks for reading.
