You must have heard people say “It’s all in their hands” or “Everyone feels down sometimes.” when discussing mental health disorders.
Well, it’s not their fault as not a lot of people are aware of mental health disorders.
Let me tell you about an instance in 2016 when I didn’t know whether mental health disorders were real or not I used to hang out with my friend who used to tell me every other day that he might be suffering from a serious physical illness and he is worried that he might going to die really soon (In hindsight dude was clearly suffering from Illness Anxiety Disorder) what I did I just said stop worrying dude just chill, when I look back I think how I could have helped him only if I had knew dude was suffering from a mental disorder.
That’s why in this post I’ll try to bust 4 most common myths about mental health disorders.
Myth-1
Mental Health Issues Are Rare
Fact
Mental health issues are common worldwide. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health condition at some point in their lives.
Thus mental health issues are really really common and people irrespective of their race, socioeconomic status and culture can be affected by it.
Myth-2
Only “Crazy” People Seek Therapy
Fact
A person who is suffering from mental health disorders should try to stay away from people who call you crazy for attending therapy sessions, as they don’t how your life is getting affected and their words are only discouraging you from making it better.
Seeking therapy or counselling is a proactive step toward maintaining mental well-being. Many people, regardless of the severity of their condition, benefit from professional mental health support.
Personally I have seen many people whose quality of life significantly improved after seeking therapists and taking relevant medications.
Myth-3
You Can Just “Snap Out of It”
Fact
Mental health conditions are not a choice, and individuals cannot simply “snap out of it.” They often require professional treatment, such as therapy, medication, or a combination of both.
Please understand that mental disorders cripple a person’s ability to think straight and live his life to the fullest.
Let’s take depression the most common mental disorder, it is so powerful if one is suffering from it so if they try to do the thing once they enjoyed the most will give them no joy, their mind only focuses on bad aspects of life,.
so yes you can’t just snap out of it.
Myth-4
Mental Health Issues Are a Result of Personal Failure
Fact
Mental health issues are not indicative of personal failure. They are complex conditions influenced by a combination of genetic, biological, environmental, and psychological factors. Understanding mental health as a medical condition is crucial in dispelling this myth.
So next time if someone says any of these try to increase awareness and those people know that mental health disorders are no joke and should be delt softly and carefully.