World Mental Health Day – 10 October 2019
Every year, since 1992 we celebrate a global mental health education day to raise awareness and advocate against social stigma. Every year we talk about mental health and try to break the barriers. Yet the majority of people who are struggling are afraid to admit it and are worry about the response they will get. Most of the patients who have gone through successful therapy are much more open about it and are happy to share. The reason may be that they have dealt with their difficulties, they spoke to somebody impartial who normalised their thoughts and feelings. Because they are feeling better, they are happy to talk about it, raising awareness in order to help others. Or they are proud of their achievement and so they should be!
Why is there a stigma?
When we break a leg, feel physically unwell with flu or pull a muscle, we seek medical help. Why is it, that when the most important muscle in our body – the brain – is not working right, we are scared to seek help? Is it because we think it’s temporary? Is it because we don’t know that it can be fixed? Or maybe because we are scared to admit that we have a problem with our brain?
Surely it’s not embarrassing, right? Do you get embarrassed that you catch the flu? I hope not. Even with STD you would go and seek help (and that can be an embarrassing thing to admit to be having…). Why then, when we are struggling with stress, low mood, anxiety, phobias, insomnia or other mental difficulties, we either seek medical help from a GP or no help at all?
Getting Help
Seeking help for your mental health difficulties from a GP might get you signposted to a mental health specialists, which is great. However, it might just result in you getting a prescription for antidepressants. If your problem hasn’t been caused by a chemical imbalance, then why would you start treatment by taking antidepressants? When you twist your leg, you are not going to ignore it, start with a strong tranquiliser or look for a surgeon. You would probably take it easy for a few days and maybe take some Paracetamol.
When you are having some difficulties with worries, anxieties and negative thinking, surely it would make more sense to see a specialist that knows about ways of thinking and how to change them? How to control your worries? Yes, you can control them!
Unpacking The Pebbles
Carrying on, as if nothing has happened, is like walking with a heavy backpack that is really slowing you down. It takes the joy away from the walk and every step is difficult. You just carry on walking without stopping and checking what’s in this backpack. Sometimes your pack it yourself, sometimes others put in some ‘stones’ or ‘pebbles’ in there and sometimes it’s a joined effort.
Regardless of where you got the backpack from, who and what they put inside, it isn’t embarrassing to stop and take a look inside with someone. It could be someone you love and trust, someone close to you or a professional stranger, who is impartial, kind and easy to talk to. Either way, you are looking inside, it shows that you are brave and in tune with yourself. You are prioritizing yourself, your needs and your feelings. Admitting that your feelings matter and that you deserve to feel OK is powerful. When you realise that your walk is slow, get someone to help you check what’s inside the backpack and unpack it. It shows maturity and resourcefulness, and what’s embarrassing about that?
Some people will say the thoughts we have, the worries, anxieties, and problems might be embarrassing. They might be. Is it more embarrassing to bring them to a specialist and work through them so they are no longer our issues? They will be long forgotten. Or is it more embarrassing to carry them around for years, letting them grow and eat away at your mood, your confidence, your joy?
Getting Help Is Normal, Mental Health Matters
I do hope that one day soon we will get to the point, where we treat mental health as ‘normal’ and as important as physical health. That we will be able to talk openly about our feelings and difficulties. That we will teach our kids how to deal with emotions and self-doubts. We are getting there, definitely more aware, more open, but we need to work on it so much more.
I will leave you with a quote from Fred Rogers, “Anything that’s human is mentionable, and anything that is mentionable can be more manageable. When we can talk about our feelings, they become less overwhelming, less upsetting, and less scary.”
Happy World Mental Health everyone! Hope it’s a good one for you. ?