Mental Illness Week

As October begins, we bring our attention to Mental Illness awareness. Our mental health is essential to our physical and emotional well-being. In this blog, we will discuss what mental illness is, the various types of mental illness, and the significance of self-compassion in mental health recovery. We want to emphasize the importance of mental healthcare.

Mental illness can affect our emotional, psychological, and social well-being, resulting in changes in our thoughts, feelings, and actions. It can impact our daily lives by influencing how we react to stress, our behavior, and our decision-making abilities. Although the medical community has yet to understand the root cause of mental illness, it has been determined that it is a complex mix of different factors, including genetic and other biological factors, early life environment, trauma and stress, and personality factors. Seeking professional help, such as visiting a doctor or a therapist, is crucial to starting the journey toward your desired life.

While there are many types of mental illness, we will highlight four that our counselors often encounter.

• Mood disorders, such as depression and bipolar disorders, can be caused by an imbalance of brain chemicals and life events contributing to depression. Studies have also found that mood disorders can be hereditary.
• Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness, with many experiencing extremely heightened feelings of nervousness or anxiousness. Many people may not realize they have the condition.
• Personality disorders result in a lifelong pattern of maladaptive beliefs, thought patterns, and behavioral responses. Those affected tend to have difficulty understanding emotions and tolerating distress while acting impulsively. This can affect their family life, social life, school and work performance, and overall quality of life.
• Trauma-related disorders occur as an emotional response to a distressing event or situation. These experiences often involve a direct threat to life or safety, and while some people can recover naturally, others will continue to experience trauma and stress-related symptoms.

Self-compassion is an essential aspect of self-help for those dealing with mental illness. This means being kind and understanding to oneself, avoiding self-judgment, reminding oneself that we are all imperfect, and being gentle with ourselves. It is important to remember that all humans suffer, and we are not alone. Utilizing our support systems, such as family, friends, doctors, or therapists, is crucial. Staying mindful of the present moment and replacing negative thoughts with non-judgmental thoughts is also helpful.

---