YOU ARE AS BEAUTIFUL AS YOUR MENTAL HEALTH
I once read a line in a book that asked the question "Why do we take care of our body when we are sick but choose to ignore our mind when it is sick?"
I tried answering that question with the fact that in Africa, and in Nigeria especially, we don't believe in the mind being sick.
We can't seem to come to grasp that it is the mind that gives the body the power to function, before the body could get sick the mind already passed a message to our subconsciousness letting us know that something is wrong with the mortal body, but because we are not enlightened in that part of our being we failed to receive the signal been sent from our minds to our consciousness.
The mind is the power house for our mental health, if our mind is troubled or sick it directly affect our mental health.
WHAT IS MENTAL HEALTH?
The World Health Organization (WHO) states that mental health is a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community.
In other words, mental health is knowing one's capabilities, one's strength and limits. It can also be said that it is a state of wellness when you know when and when not to overtask or abuse the mind.
When we stress ourselves more than what our minds could endure it sometimes crashes down on us which can lead to mental disorders.
WHAT IS MENTAL DISORDERS?
Mental disorders (or mental illnesses) are conditions that affect your thinking, feeling, mood, and behavior. They may be occasional or long-lasting (chronic). They can affect your ability to relate to others and function each day.
TYPES OF MENTAL DISORDER
There are several types of mental disorders but I would list just 7 here.
Seven common types of mental disorders include:
1. Depression
2. Anxiety disorders such as generalized anxiety disorders social anxiety disorders, panic disorders, and phobias
3. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
4. Bipolar disorder
5. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
6. Schizophrenia
7. Personality disorders such as borderline personality disorder, narcissistic personality disorder, and antisocial personality disorder.
Of these seven disorders, I will be talking more about depression in this article because it is the number one disorder we tend to overlook. We overlook depression in this part of the world mostly because its symptoms looks small and not earth shattering if we look at it individually and not as an entity.
DEPRESSION
In simple terms, depression simply means a state of mind producing serious, long-term lowering of enjoyment of life or inability to visualize a happy future.
And symptoms of depression include:
1. Weight gain or loss
2. Sleeping too much or too little
3. Fatigue/lack of energy
4. Feelings of guilt or worthlessness
5. Forgetfulness
6. Confusion
7. Moving and speaking more slowly than usual
8. Restlessness or have trouble staying still
9. Thoughts of death or suicide and many more.
Yes, life is not a bed of roses and it throws all sorts of obstacles at us, but life also has a way of letting us know when to slow our pace and take care of our minds.
There 2 major ways of overcoming depression, which are done through;
Medication which involves taking antidepressants medicine, or therapy sessions.
We frown on therapy session in this part of the world, but sometimes all we need to be well is to talk about our problems and have someone give us their undivided attention.
In conclusion dear reader, your mind controls your being. If you are having or showing any of the above symptoms please talk to someone or see a therapist today.
Remember, it is a stabilized mind that can bring about a productive life. Also know that you are only as beautiful as your mental health.
P.S: I do not own the image
