The stigma around mental health

How often have you casually called your friend/colleague mad or associated their behavior with words like "autistic" or "dyslexic?" I’m sure we have all characterized particular actions or behaviors under these heads, classifying it as a mental disorder or any kind of mental illness when most of us have no idea what runs in one’s mind. Every mental disorder is not the same but associate all of them with a five-letter, inconsiderate word 'CRAZY’.

A mental disorder or mental illness refers to a spectrum of mental health conditions that affects an individual’s thought process, mood and behavior. It is often spoken about as a state of being unable to control your mind or thoughts, leading to unusual behavioral states or actions.

A significant population of India goes through several kinds of mental disorders, being completely unaware of the negative consequences it has on their being. Our society has made us an element of work, who keeps striving to be perfect. Most of us would refrain from accepting the mental disorder by claiming it to be normal. There is no fact or study about an individual with some kind of mental illness being abnormal or different. What makes us different is the thought and the lack of self-acceptance.

What is the stigma around mental illness? Haven’t we all looked down upon a person with some kind of mental illness or thought of them differently? This discrimination in our society is due to the lack of awareness, like a person being labelled “psychotic” rather than a person going through “psychosis”. This is stigma can affect an individual with feelings of shame, hopelessness and even isolation at times. Nearly nine out of ten people with mental health problems say that stigma and discrimination around it adds to the negative effects in their lives. Even though, our education caps up stand up high, we fail to help these individuals in their positive growth and development.

Traditionally, mental health issues are not meant to be discussed in public. But, to break the superannuated mindset, let’s address some different types of psychological illnesses.

Phobia

Phobia is classified as a type of anxiety disorder. This word has been normalized and reduced to being synonymous to something we dislike or can’t stand a particular thing. There are specific names dedicated to each type of phobia, for example, a fear of heights is termed as Acrophobia, and a fear of public places is called Agoraphobia. The feeling of being scared, triggered or disturbed is usually associated with such a disorder. An affected individual will go to great lengths to avoid the situation or face the element of reality.

Such a disorder needs motivation and positivity. Undergoing “exposure therapy” allows an individual to be introduced to the situation or object which disturbs them, until the mind dissolves the fear associated. It is not as surface as it sounds, a phobia can lead to deep negative thoughts of fear. This makes a person feel less worthy of life and could also lead to suicidal thoughts.

Depression

A question commonly asked to many possessing any sadness is, “Why are you depressed?” We are emotional preys of our doings but are unable to understand the seriousness of the problem. Feeling low, sad or emotionally not being in the element are some things one goes through diurnally. But unfortunately, most people going through something this serious are unaware of themselves.

Depression is a state of an individual undergoing a group of conditions that elevates or lowers their mood. This could be in the form of depression or a bipolar disorder. It is one of the most common disorders with more than 264 million people under all age groups being affected.

We come across hundreds of people daily but little do we know, what people are thinking or going through. The conspiracy of having public banters or putting people down on widespread platform like “social media”, has drastically pulled the graph of people undergoing such disorders.

Eating disorders

Every mental illness is not expressed as an emotion like most people would believe. Eating disorder diagnosis, have dangerous impacts on both physical and mental health that can affect a person psychologically. People witness a change in their behavior around food and associate the eating habit with the emotion or anxiety being expressed. When people say “food for thought” it also means our food can make or break your mood under circumstances. Stress eating is something the millennial have adopted, without realizing how it overpowers our thoughts.

Schizophrenia

I’m sure most of us spelt that wrong the first time we saw it. Our ability to think makes us the person we are, giving life a personal touch. Our thoughts are what brings perspective to life, giving us a reason to network and understand different opinions and perspectives. Schizophrenia is a disorder that affects an individual’s ability to think, feel and behave distinctly. In an illness of delusions, it’s not just the mind being affected but a feeling of dominance. You would feel like an external force was driving your soul. A state where your mind had no say and your actions would overpower every thought. For a person to understand someone with this illness would take immense patience and knowledge. Every statement made, would feel unrealistic and pretentious. But can you think of someone controlling your thoughts all the time?

Most people think that it would be evident when one goes through any mental struggles, however, it bogs down the strongest people just like my late grandmother. She was a woman of strength and substance who was diagnosed with schizophrenia a few years ago. Seeing her struggle first hand made the family understand the harsh realities of the illness. Some days were spent in her room where she'd braid my hair and talk about her early days of life whereas some days were painful spent where she was under heavy medication and eschewed to speak to anyone. Last year on the same date, we lost her to the heaven's above and I can see her shining brighter than before and lighting everyone's face up just how she lit up mine. Her love will always remain irreplaceable.