The proper treatment of mental illness, both in a cultural/social sense and a medical sense, have been frequent topics of discussion in recent years.
In the past, and still today, to some extent, mental illness has been surrounded by a negative stigma that has prevented people from being honest and forthcoming regarding their issues.
We know now that mental illnesses are caused by chemical imbalances in the brain which lead to changes in mood, emotions and motivation (among many other things).
However, it was common for mental illness to be treated as something that was a choice by the individual or to simply label those suffering from mental distress as “crazy”, people that ought to be contained and kept separate from regularly functioning society.
This stigma, which we still battle today, has prevented people from seeking help when they truly need it. If one fell and broke their arm, they would seek medical attention without a second thought.
But, if for some reason having a broken arm made others look at you differently and was generally not accepted or understood by your peers, you might be hesitant to seek help for your injury and instead just suffer in silence.
When we view physical and mental illness in the same light, it seems ridiculous that we would look down on anyone who is unwell and receiving professional attention to restore their health.
I have suffered from high levels of anxiety throughout my entire life. It was an issue I was unable to label or recognize until high school, but looking back, I realize it has always been a factor.
My type of anxiety tends to stem from social situations. I get especially anxious when I am forced to spend time with new people, go to new places, or generally any scenario when a lot of eyes will be on me.
In its most serious form, the nerves and fear can cause crippling physical effects like shaking, vomiting or panic attacks. In fact, and only a few people know this, I left my junior prom early due to a panic attack…not exactly the magical night I was hoping for.
I spent years trying to battle it on my own, thinking that it was a problem I was causing for myself and that I was the only one who could stop it. I hid my problem from everyone outside of my family because it was clear to me that they were not suffering from the same issues and limitations.
When I finally got fed up with making excuses and realized that “I just can’t…” never went over so well with my friends and peers, I decided that I needed to seek help.
I was surprised to find that my problem was common and there are a variety of different techniques to cope with anxiety, many of which do not involve medication.
I learned that one of the biggest tools for managing anxiety is recognizing its triggers, which situations I can handle and which I cannot, and being honest with others about my problem so that they can support me when I need it.
A few months after my father passed away, I was experiencing some severe depression and panic attacks and decided to seek medical attention once again, this time in the form of counseling.
I remember starting off one of my first sessions with my new counselor (who I strongly believe is largely responsible for getting me through last year) by saying “I never saw myself as the type of person who would need counseling.”
And that embodies the way I think a lot of people view mental illness, we don’t want to be “one of those people.” As I previously explained, that statement was almost equivalent to saying “I never saw myself as the type of person who would break their arm and have to go to the doctor.”
My counselor explained to me that everyone is the type of person who might need counseling at some point. Her clients were people of all different age groups, from all different walks of life.
There is no criteria for people with mental illness. If you’re human, you’re the type of person that might need counseling someday.
A mental illness can be just as debilitating and disruptive as many physical illnesses and can even be a lifelong struggle for many people. As a society, we need to focus on a more holistic view of health.
After all, the mind and body function together, therefore, both need to be functioning properly in order for one to be comfortable and productive.
The best thing we can do is recognize the severity of mental illness and treat it as what it is, an illness. In doing this, we will encourage ourselves and others to seek the help needed, creating a healthier and happier population.
Bridget Goedke
Senior Viewpoints Editor
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