Mental Health
The affects of mental illness
A lot of attention concerning mental health was brought about when Olympic athlete Simone Biles talked about the importance of her own mental health while performing at the Olympics this year. If you have a mental illness it not only affects you, but it affects everyone around you.
Mental illness can be anxiety, depression, or something more serious like being bipolar, or being schizophrenic. It is important to remember that if you feel sad, or anxious about something that you do not ignore this. Talk to a doctor about how you are feeling, because they can help you. Always be truthful about your medical history, especially if mental illness runs in your family. If you’re not certain about your family’s medical history then tell your doctor this.
If you live with someone who exhibits any of these types of behaviors talk to them about this. Make sure that they understand that they are not alone, and that you are there to support them in anyway that you can. Unfortunately if they do not want help there is nothing that you can do. Living with a mentally ill person can take its toll on you, because most of whatever is going on with them is put on you. It is just as necessary for you to get professional help as it is for them. Do not ever feel like it is anything that you did wrong, because the person who is mentally ill cannot control their behavior.
I have never been one for medication, especially concerning children, but when it comes to mental illness this just might be necessary. This however should be a private discussion between you and your medical doctor. First try talking to your general doctor. Ask them for a referral to a psychiatrist, because they are medical doctors who can prescribe medication if it is necessary. Unfortunately sometimes it is necessary for you to do the tough love thing if the person’s bad behavior continues, and especially if they refuse to get professional help. I know that this won’t be an easy decision to make, but some people learn more quickly that if someone they love is refusing to talk to me there must be a very good reason for this. If this person was a drug addict, addicted to alcohol you’d do this, so why not do the same, especially if they’re refusing to get help for their mental illness?
If you suspect that the person might be suicidal then you must call a doctor immediately and ask for help. Do not wait, because you never know what could happen. The National Suicide Hotline number is,
1-800-273-8255
Please call them even if you just need someone to talk to, because that is what they are there for. It is important for those of us who live with someone who is mentally ill that we do not feel guilty about this. This belongs to the person who is living with these things. There is nothing that you can do, especially if they do not want help.
It’s extremely important that we continue to openly talk about mental health, because if we hide this, think that it’s something shameful then the people who need help are very likely not going to get it. Remember that you need to seek advice from a true medical professional, because only they can prescribe medication if it’s needed. Sometimes all that’s needed is to get the conversation started, so that this can hopefully lead to a much better life for everyone who is involved.
About the Creator
Lilli Adams
I'm a former flight attendant who still likes to travel. I love all animals. Please be kind everyone, because you never know what someone else might be going through.
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