How often do we hear things like: “Oh, I’m so OCD! I line my pens up by color.” Or “My team lost last night and I’m so depressed!”. Mental health diagnoses are often thrown around as common vernacular, but these are real issues that affect people in very real ways. Because of that misuse of terminology and the misconceptions that commonly surround mental health, many people who struggle with mental health issues are afraid to address the issue. It is important that people with mental health struggles understand that their issues are nothing to be ashamed of and through talking about it, we can start to shine light onto the reality of mental health.
Addressing the Stigma
When people are afraid of speaking about their mental health they may avoid addressing the topic with family or friends or refuse to see a mental health professional for an official diagnosis. They may worry that they will be judged or treated differently because of their mental health issues. A 2010 study explains that stigma embraces both prejudicial attitudes and discriminating behavior towards those with mental health problems, and the social effects of this include: exclusion, poor social support, poorer subjective quality of life, and low self-esteem.
Other people’s judgments almost always stem from a lack of understanding rather than information based on facts. Learning to accept your condition and recognize what you need to do to treat it, seeking support, and helping educate others can make a big difference.
Healthy Mental Health
It can be intimidating to work through the stigma that is often attached to mental health struggles, but there are ways. For example, the first step may be finding a support group or safe space with others who share a similar struggle. Isolation is dangerous when you have mental health issues, but reaching out to people you trust for the compassion, support, and understanding you need allows you to connect and feel safe.
It can also be helpful to look for people you admire who also struggle with mental health issues. Many celebrities and athletes have begun speaking out about their own struggles, bringing education and a positive light to mental health. It shows that even successful people deal with mental health issues and that a label or diagnosis, is not a direct reflection on your ability to succeed. When you admire someone who has a similar diagnosis, it may help you feel a little more compassion towards yourself as well.
The most important part of the path to a positive relationship with your mental health is seeking out professional help. Receiving a professional diagnosis is the first step towards managing symptoms and a clinician can help you create the best treatment plan to address your concerns and symptoms.
blueFire PulsaR Can Help
Life is a journey. Our comprehensive multi-faceted and clinical approach in the wilderness helps young adults and their parents navigate this journey in a positive direction. We believe that through a balance of self-assessment, insight-oriented therapy, outdoor living, adventure activities, and academic focus these young adults will find their true selves.
We help young adults step out of their comfort zone, improve their self-esteem, and help our clients build their confidence through self-success. Our program helps create positive changes and improvements through engagement and adventure. We have a supportive environment that encourages clients to push themselves physically and emotionally to create lasting changes. For more information please call (844) 413-1999.