Mental health has unfortunately, became a stigma to a lot of people. While some people come out and speak about it, some, more especially men are refusing to speak up and get help. Here we break down the dynamics of it all, for you.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), mental health is “a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community.”
Different Forms of Mental Health
From the research on Mayo Clinic, we learnt that…
Clinical Depression
A mental health disorder characterised by persistently depressed mood or loss of interest in activities, causing significant impairment in daily life.
Anxiety Disorder
A mental health disorder characterised by feelings of worry, anxiety or fear that are strong enough to interfere with one’s daily activities.
Bipolar Disorder
A disorder associated with episodes of mood swings ranging from depressive lows to manic highs.
Dementia
A group of thinking and social symptoms that interferes with daily functioning.
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Schizophrenia
A disorder that affects a person’s ability to think, feel and behave clearly.
Autism
A serious developmental disorder that impairs the ability to communicate and interact.
Attention – Deficit/Hyperactivity
A chronic condition including attention difficulty, hyperactivity and impulsiveness.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Excessive thoughts (obsessions) that lead to repetitive behaviours (compulsions).
Early Warning Signs
Mental illness comes in different forms but these are the early warning signs of a problem :
• Eating or sleeping too much or too little
• Pulling away from people and usual activities
• Having low or no energy
• Feeling numb or like nothing matters
• Having unexplained aches and pains
• Feeling helpless or hopeless
• Smoking, drinking, or using drugs more than usual
• Feeling unusually confused, forgetful, on edge, angry, upset, worried, or scared
• Yelling or fighting with family and friends
• Experiencing severe mood swings that cause problems in relationships
The Coping Mechanism
According to MediCentres, a Family Health care clinic, these are the coping mechanism.
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Stay aware of your body and its reaction to stress. Anxiety and stress can be your body telling your brain that something is wrong and needs to be addressed. Listening to your stress levels will help you to identify stressors in your life as well as see your progress.
Reduce stress. Sometimes stress is a necessary part of our lives and can even be a healthy reaction to circumstances. Keeping in mind what parts of your life cause stress and asking how you can reduce these stresses is important. Sometimes managing your mental health and wellbeing is about managing the circumstances that surround you, as well as looking at how you think about stress.
Rest. Take time to yourself to deal with stress – your health is important, and everyone needs a break sometimes.
Take care of yourself. People start to forget about taking care of themselves when they are feeling overwhelmed. Be honest with yourself about your hygiene, nutrition, exercise, sleep habits, and how you can take care of yourself better.
Find tools that work to reduce your stress. Everyone is different, but many people find relief in different tools like meditation, ASMR, light exercise, or hobbies.
Stay engaged. Establishing personal space is good, but consider if you might be isolating yourself from people and whether it’s a healthy habit for you.
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