Metal Illness- a condition that affects a person’s thinking, feeling, or mood.
It is so much more than that! Mental illness has many different faces. when I say “many different faces”, I mean, there are different terms for different areas of mental illness. Some of the terms are ADHD, Anxiety disorder, Autism, Bipolar disorder, Borderline personality disorder, depression, dissociate disorder, psychosis, eating disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), posttraumatic-stress disorder (PTSD), and schizophrenia. They all play a different course and affect each person differently.
I learned that The National Institute of Mental Health states ” 1 in 5 in the U.S (43.8 billion) experience mental illness in a given year.” 1 IN 5 PEOPLE! Think of it like this, everything 5th person you meet has one if not more of the different faces of mental illness. The numbers grow more and more each year. Less and less, become educated about it, and learn to deal with it in everyday life. More struggle with this each year. This disease affects one of the main organs that control’s our body, it controls the brain. Giving the brain a chemical imbalance
This is why we, as humans, need to learn to listen more and talk less. People actually tend to communicate to others what is going on with them all in their words and body language. I am not saying just because you talk to someone and they might be having a bad day, that you can diagnose them with anxiety or bipolar disorder. But, I am saying, just talking to someone, even about what seems to you to be the littlest issue, can help them through a process that their brain is trying to perform.
Now, that we have a little background on mental illness, and that you know that people aren’t “just crazy”, there are things that you can do to help with your mental illness or there are things you can do to help someone else.
Surround yourself with positive people. Nobody needs a “negative nancy”, you know, the person always complaining. A negative outlook on life. People that do not respect your needs. Seriously, If someone can’t understand that you have a mental illness, then let that person go. You have no reason to defend yourself, especially if you have to do it constantly. Surround yourself with those that motivate you to do good.
Value Yourself. Taking time for you. Doing something that you enjoy, that gives you happiness. Block that time out! (check out my other blog: What the heck is “Me Time”)
Support Group. Yes, I said it. Find others that battle what you battle. Being able to communicate to others that have similarities, I can tell you its a whole lot more than sharing just survival tips. You can develop a bond. On top of that, you begin to gain becoming “socially active” in society.
Goal setting. Set goals in life! Do it in weeks, monthly, or yearly intervals. It gives you something to look forward to. It also helps your mind focus on that positive thing that you set for yourself. Not to mention, the feeling of success when you achieve it!
Last, but not least, Do something with all that “craziness” in your head. Finding a hobby, crafting, working out. What I’m saying is, to make sure you have an outlet. You can schedule this in your “Me Time”. An outlet that lets you be you. (Stay tuned for how I personally use my outlet). Your getaway. A time to focus on something else.
At the end of the day, battling with any mental illness is hard. It is a constant everyday battle, that never lets up. WE are just like other people. We just battle a lot more. So, instead of hiding it, or being ashamed of it, let’s educate the world, find others, and connect. I invite anyone to follow and connect with me. I am always a listening ear away!
