The Reality of Mental Health: 6 Myths Debunked

Discussing difficulties might be challenging for persons suffering from psychological disorders. The stigma associated with mental health may cause patients to feel isolated, disregarded, and confused. The fundamental reason for the stigmas has been a lack of understanding about what creates mental illnesses.

The greatest way to ensure that more individuals seek therapy and get the care they require is to dispel myths and eliminate stigmas surrounding psychological disorders.

Myth #1: Mental diseases are uncommon.

The myth that psychological disease is uncommon is probably the result of an absence of open, public discussion about the large number of lives it affects. However, mental disorders are highly frequent – nearly every individual will suffer from a psychological problem at some point in their lives, and one in every 25 Americans is now dealing with a major psychological disorder.

Sadly, young toddlers and adolescents are not immune. Mental, behavioral, and developmental issues affect 17% of children aged two to eight in the United States. Nearly half of teenagers aged 13 to 18 have had some type of mental condition.

Mental illness is defined by medical specialists as a range of illnesses that may lead to unpredictability, disruptions, and unusual changes in your emotions, thoughts, and attitude. Variations in mood, feeling tight or “antsy,” difficulty to focus, as well as tell-tale physical issues like continual exhaustion, trouble sleeping, chronic muscle tension, and abrupt changes in appetite (overeating and loss of appetite), are all signs of a psychological disorder.

Mental diseases are not only common, but they also do not necessarily continue for an extended period of time. Episodic disorders, or those that come and go in “waves,” such as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), are also classified as issues with mental health.

Mental disease is deemed serious when it starts to significantly interfere with daily tasks such as working, handling children, or managing personal cleanliness. While various psychological illnesses come into this category, the most prevalent ones are:

Bipolar disorder
Major depressive disorder

Schizophrenia

Myth #2: If you work harder, your symptoms will go away.

It’s a frequent delusion that getting rid of a mental disorder is as simple as having enough resolve, discipline, or mental stamina. That is not correct.

Mental diseases are not curable. Believing in this myth, or having loved ones who believe it, can seem quite disheartening for individuals who suffer from it. It’s critical to identify that having a mental health problem does not imply that you’re weak or have a flaw in your personality.

Furthermore, the causes of mental disease frequently include biological, social, and physical factors or a mixture of these three. The following are some particular causes:

Predisposition due to genetics (it “runs in the race”)
In the brain, there is a chemical imbalance.

As a child or an adult, you may have experienced mental or physical trauma.
Social isolation or loneliness
Neurological problems, such as brain damage

Using alcohol or drugs
Physical sickness that is severe or prolonged

Not all psychological issues can be managed in the same way. Some people may require medication, talk therapy, or a mix of the two to deal with their signs. Others may necessitate more specific care.

Myth #3: Everyone with a mental disorder requires medicine to control their symptoms.

While some patients with mental disorders may be administered medication as part of their therapy, this is not always possible. Some people with mental diseases do not require a prescription to control their signs and symptoms.

It’s critical to understand that no two persons are the same. Medication can be very useful in treating symptoms at times. It may even be critical to healing for certain people. So, what is the most successful therapy for mental disorders? There is no one-size-fits-all treatment for mental disorders.

Based on how regularly and intensely you suffer symptoms, Your medical professionals might suggest one or more of the following in addition to – or in place of medication.

Psychotherapy (often referred to as talk therapy)
Lifestyle modifications such as altering your food, exercising regularly, and lowering stress are a few examples of lifestyle changes
Increasing your support system networks

Myth #4: Having a career is too Stressful for those with mental illnesses.

It is incorrect to assume that someone suffering from a mental illness has no ability to work or hold a job. Stigmas surrounding mental illness can be incredibly destructive in the work environment, making it harder for workers to take the time and attention that they would if they had “normal” health issues.

According to a national poll done by the American Psychiatric Association, one in three workers fears that getting mental health care may result in retaliation or even termination.

Employees with psychological disorders are, in reality, exactly the same as any other worker. Employers who recruit persons with mental illnesses claim that they are just as productive, on schedule, trustworthy, and inspired as those who do not. Having work can also be useful to persons suffering from a mental illness since it offers discipline and an awareness of independent purpose.

Myth #5: Patients with mental illnesses are more inclined to commit crimes or be violent.

One of the most frequent myths regarding mental illness is that individuals who have psychological problems are more violent. However, this is not true.

People showing indications of mental illness perform only 7.5% of violent acts. Individuals suffering from mental illnesses are not always violent. People with mental illnesses are approximately four times more inclined to be victims of crime, and persons with serious mental disorders are ten times more inclined to be victims of violent crime.

Myth #6: People who suffer from mental illnesses will never recover.

The assumption that someone will never be able to recover and live an active, fulfilling life is just false. Individuals with mental disorders can, in fact, live joyful, purposeful lives that are important and satisfying when they are treated.

Mental diseases are curable health conditions that are all too widespread in today’s world. They can impact anybody, regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status. There is hope, even though individuals are still scared to talk about them owing to embarrassment, misunderstanding, and fear of prejudice. Organizations all throughout the country and the world are working hard to dispel this myth and make it simpler and more normal for people suffering from mental illnesses to discuss it and get treatment.

Don’t let psychological stigmas limit your opportunities.

There are many more myths regarding mental disorders, but knowing the truth will help you choose the most beneficial decisions for yourself or those you care about. Don’t let stigmas keep you from getting help if you’re dealing with a mental condition. You are not required to go it solo.

Meeting with one of the medical professionals to assess your situation and begin you on the way to feeling good and living an active life is an excellent first step toward therapy. Your physician will be prepared to respond to your questions, design an initial treatment plan, and, if necessary, refer you to a mental health professional.