World Mental Health Day

I aim to only post once a week. I do this for many reasons, including that I am busy and also I figure y'all don't want or need to hear my musings any more than that. Today, I am making a rare exception. Not because I am having a Crisis of the Week (COW as my therapist shortened it), but because I think that mental health is too important to not talk about as often as possible.

As I have previously stated, I have Bipolar Disorder, among other things. The most relatable aspects of these is generally the depression and anxiety when super simplified. I think that the best way to help people with any struggles in the brain is to end the stigma of talking about it. To that end, I want to start with some research I did about mental health statistics to put things into perspective for those of you who are not neurodivergent or mentally spicy as some have called it.

1 in 5 adults has a current mental health condition.

1 in 20 adults has a serious mental health condition that significantly interferes with daily life.

The most common mental health conditions are anxiety disorders.

42.5 million adults have a diagnosed anxiety disorder.

21 million adults have been diagnosed with major depression.

Sources: National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Mental Health America, and World Health Organization (WHO). 

I hear a lot, often from older generations that mental health disorders did not exist in their day. I like to point out that people just were not as informed or getting the help they needed then. Something I think about regularly is my therapist explaining the research about mental illness, specifically bipolar disorder, showing that there is a lot of debate about if trauma or mental disorders come first. Like the chicken and the egg question. Which came first? Are you more predisposed to mental illness because of your trauma? I always thought these things were really interesting. I am not much of a person who needs to know the why of things, but it would be cool if doctors could pinpoint what exactly causes the changes in a person's brain that contributes to different things in addition to known genetic factors.

I can not speak on the various mental diagnoses that exist. I can not speak for every person with a mental illness. I am not a doctor or a therapist. What I can share with you though is my experience as a woman with a late diagnosis of a mental disorder that I can not control and you can't see by looking at me. Right this moment my brain is racing with more thoughts than I can process. Right now I am full of confidence, energy, and ideas. A month ago, I struggled to get out of bed. A month ago, I felt no purpose and just did all the basic things I felt were expected of me in my life. My brain constantly runs faster than I can make my mouth work, so I mess up my words because I can not talk as fast as my brain gives me the words. I stress about literally everything on a day where I am at my "baseline," but I do not think about any consequences and have no impulse control when my moods are elevated. I dwell and worry in the extremes when I am down. When I am down, I can't remember to take a shower or care to wash my hair. When I am up, my make up is done and I am sporting a new hair color. You know what you see when I am in any of these extreme moods? A smiling picture on social media, a cooked dish at the potluck, a school volunteer, clean and happy children, and a woman who prides herself on being dependable for everyone in her life. In my head though is all that I laid out above, a mess.

Next thing I hear often: They/you can just fix that with medications and be fine. Sometimes that is true. Meds can help with some symptoms, but are often not all inclusive and there is no "cure" for many if not all mental health disorders. Just like a virus, you can only treat the symptoms and try to limit the things that trigger them, but it has to "run its course." I personally have only sought treatment by medication when I am especially low and I am afraid I may be a danger to myself. The trick there is that when I was prescribed an antidepressant before we knew I had bipolar it triggered a hypomanic episode, but the doctors didn't like that either! They said it wasn't "sustainable" and I would crash again eventually so I had to get "leveled out" to be considered functional. I found a medication that worked but made me feel trapped in my own body, like I couldn't feel things entirely, or connect. This is a common complaint and a reason why many many people go off of those meds that "help." Plus, it's really easy to forget how bad either extreme is when you're in the opposite one, and the euphoric mania is a high you can't get from any bottle.

I am one of millions who manage hidden illnesses every single day. I am a mother, a wife, a friend, a teacher, and most importantly a person who struggles with their mental health every single day. That being said, here is my sage advise that I probably have no business giving. Support your friends and family that struggle, even if you do not see it or understand it. If you struggle in any way, talk to someone. I am a HUGE advocate for therapy, it doesn't have to be weird. If you get uncomfortable, pick a new person. Take your meds, or don't, but be mindful of your mental health status and TRY to listen to the people around you that love you and are trying to help, even if it isn't what you need. No one knows the true reality of what is going on in your head, so try to be clear and honest. This advice is probably a little hypocritical, but I am learning and trying every day. Scheduling a therapy appointment is even on my ever expanding to do list, maybe you should add it to yours too.

Observe World Mental Health Day with kindness and understanding.