It's easy for people to follow what others say. Believing the things that are viral about mental health and considering it as truth is the common mistake most people do. In this article, we are busting the myths about mental health and will learn the actual truth behind it.
Creating a perception about anyone and looking at it in the same way, is a highly non acceptable thing. Many of us usually go with mob mentality which unknowingly takes us towards a completely different viewpoint.
To learn the facts about mental health let's start with some common myths:
Mental health myth 1:
People with mental health issues are unpredictable.
The most common myth about mental health is the person going through this situation can get violent very easily and will react in a very unpredictable way. But what people don't know is, only 3% to 5%% of people having this problem have a tendency to become violent at times. It's true that some people may act unpredictably in mental illness, but the count of such people is comparatively very low. Most of the people react very normally and stay calm.
Mental health myth 2:
A pill works more than a therapy.
Few things can never be understood until they are experienced. The mental health issue is not a common problem like cold and fever. Such illness can be cured with a few pills but when it comes to mental health, the person wants someone to understand his/her emotions. What therapy can do for such an illness could never be compared with any pill. During recovery from mental health illness, a combination of medicine and professional therapy is needed.
Mental health myth 3:
The person having a mental illness has low intelligence.
Like any physical illness, mental illness has nothing to do with intelligence. A wise and top level scientist can also feel mental illness. Likewise, a topper in class can also have mental health problems. A good income, level of intelligence, and brilliance do not depend on anyone's mental health situation.
Mental health myth 4:
Teenagers can not get affected by mental health difficulties.
Unstable mental health conditions can affect anyone regardless of their age. In fact, teenagers are more likely to get impacted by mental illness. The burden of studies, comparison of marks, unfortunate breaking of relations are some common reasons for unstable mental health in teens. Ignoring this and considering it as not a major issue should be avoided. Due to fragile age and lack of knowledge teens are more likely to take unwanted actions and cause harm to themselves.
Mental health myth 5:
Once a person develops a mental illness, he/she can never recover.
Although recovering from mental illness can be a long phase, but it's not life long. Discussing mental situations and clearing the mind is not an easy task. To recover fully from such a hard phase of life, one needs special care and relevant time to gain back the confidence and get a healthy mind. There are various services, treatments, and help needed for recovering mental health problems. And there are proven reports that a person can get completely out of this situation and live normally.
Mental health myth 6:
A common person can do nothing for a mentally ill person.
Medicine, therapist, and doctors are professionals who guide the patient and help in recovering. But apart from them, if your friend, family member, or a close one is suffering from a mental health issue, you can act a major role in the recovery of that person. Observing their habits, sharing thoughts with them, treating them well are some things which you can do for that person. Friends and family play an important role too. It's a big myth that not being a professional you are of no use to a person experiencing a mental problem. Sometimes what a doctor can not do can be done with the help of a friend.
Mental health myth 7:
You need to take care of your mental health only if you have a mental illness.
Prevention causes no harm. It's better to be alert about your mental health condition than working on it when it actually happened. Engaging in the habits that keep your mental health in a good state should be performed even if you are not affected by the problem. Healthy brain activities and preventive measures can have fewer chances of getting a mental illness. So, for better outcomes and stronger mental health quality, few lifestyle changes should be done by everyone.
Mental health myth 8:
People with a mental disorder can not work.
Now a days mental health illness can be found in 2 out of 10 people. This is completely a myth that such people can not work. It's true that mental illness affects the person in many ways. But there are people who feel mentally unstable still go on their work and do it successfully. Getting affected by mental health problems does not mean a person has to leave all his work and sit in a corner. Most of the people having mental illness carry out all their work and do the job similar to the person who is not having any issues related to mental health.
It's high time to blindly trust others' thoughts. Knowing the actual facts and learning about them will only give you the truth. We need to think more practically and participate in spreading awareness about all these mental health myths.