July is Mental Illness Awareness month. Mental illness can affect anyone, at any age. It can cause great distress, dysfunction within the family as well as negative consequences for the sufferer. Mental illnesses can be a temporary or permanent diagnosis depending on the nature of the disorder.
Mental illnesses include depression, anxiety and panic disorders, schizophrenia, obsessive compulsive disorder, memory disorders like Alzheimer’s and Dementia and personality disorders. Genetics (the code we inherit from our parents) play a large role in mental illness and often, more than one member of a family can suffer from the same mental disorder. However, environmental factors such as drug abuse, emotional trauma and medical conditions can also play a role in the development of mental illnesses.
Just as we need to take good care of our bodies, we also need to take care of our minds and hearts. Having a support system is very beneficial and often helps us to work through our problems in ways that we would’ve have thought of by ourselves. Following a healthy lifestyle is also a very important tool in staying mentally healthy – eat a balanced diet rich in fruit and vegetables, lean proteins, wholegrain carbohydrates and low-fat dairy and ensure at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise per day as well as a minimum of 7 hours of sleep per night. These will assist the brain to rest and re-energise itself to cope with the pressures of modern life.
If, however, you are overwhelmed and feel that something isn’t right, listen to your heart and see a healthcare practitioner that can make an appropriate assessment. It is sometimes necessary to use additional means of keeping mentally healthy – psychotherapy, medications and sometimes even hospitalisation.
Mental illness is just like any other illness and therefore, shouldn’t be stigmatised. Just as we can support those struggling with a matter of the heart, we may too need support someday.