The Importance of Mental Health

What is mental health?
Though no concise definition exists, mental health is basically your attitude and approach to life. Psychological, environmental, genetic, or physiological factors have a profound effect on overall mental development.
What is mental illness?
Mental illness impairs your ability to perform routine tasks, foster healthy relationships, or cope with anger or stress. It may be classified on the basis of extreme mood swings, irrational or destructive thought patterns, and behavioral problems.
How important is mental health?
Your mental health has a huge impact on every aspect of your life.
o Self-image
Good mental health means appreciating your achievements and accepting your shortcomings. A mental illness can cause an inferiority complex, a negative body image, and intense feelings of self-hate, anger, disgust, and uselessness, which could mutate into extreme depression, psycho-social disorders, or eating disorders.
o Education
Students with mental problems socially isolate themselves, and develop anxiety disorders and concentration problems. Good mental health ensures an all-round educational experience that enhances social and intellectual skills that lead to self-confidence and better grades.
o Relationships
Mental health largely contributes to the functioning of human relationships. Mental illness can hamper even basic interactions with family, friends, and colleagues. Most people suffering from mental illness find it difficult to nurture relationships, have problems with commitment or intimacy, and frequently encounter sexual health issues.
o Sleep
An inability to handle stress or anxiety can cause insomnia. Even if you mange to fall asleep, you may wake up a dozen times during the night with thoughts of what went wrong the day before or how bad tomorrow is going to be. You may develop severe sleeping disorders which leave you exhausted and less productive.
o Eating
People with mental disorders are more prone to indulging in comfort eating or emotional binges. Finding comfort in food is something we all do from time to time. But with a mental illness, it becomes difficult to control yourself. Overeating can lead to obesity, which puts you at a risk for heart disease and diabetes, in addition to creating an unhealthy body-image.
o Physical health
Your mental state directly affects your body. For example, stress can lead to hypertension or stomach ulcers. People who are mentally healthy are at a lower risk for many health complications.
So make a conscious effort to improve and maintain your mental health.

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The Stigma Of Bipolar Syndrome

Having any sort of illness or disability tends to carry with it a certain stigma and the same holds true when it comes to mental illnesses. Bipolar syndrome is one of those disorders that carry with it a certain stigma. As a group many that suffer from bipolar syndrome are afraid to seek help, afraid to admit they have it, or afraid to let the world know.
As is rather obvious, I could care less about the stigma. It is a part of what makes me me, and for that I am thankful. That's right. I'm thankful for bipolar syndrome because without it I simply would not be myself. That's not to say that I don't understand those who are fearful of coming out or coming to terms with it. I do. Simply because for the longest time in my life I had a hard time even admitting it to myself.
Where do these fears come from? In what origin are they found?
One is in the fear of being labeled crazy. Society holds this horrible belief that if you are suffering from a mental illness, then you must be crazy. The way I choose to look at is, what is crazy, what is normal. Neither truly holds a definition of someones character or can be defined by a certain set of defining characteristics so who cares if I'm normal or crazy, I'm simply me.
Another is because of the way our society works. If you do something others view as dumb, you're a retard. If you are overly emotional you're bipolar, if you're not the same cut of mould as everyone else you're crazy. With so many derogatory terms thrown around on a regular basis why in the world would anyone want to associate themselves with bipolar syndrome. They simply won't. And as a result their health, and very lives become at risk. (Something to think about before using any sort of slur again!)
It took me realizing that none of them or their opinions mattered. As Marilyn Munroe once said "If you cannot handle me at my worst, you don't deserve me at my best." If they choose to define me because of what I have or a labelled that's been applied to me, they don't deserve to be a part of my life. People can be callous, and they can be cold, but a wonderful world opened up to me when I opened my bipolar world. Sure I get the hate mail, I get the you're crazy mail, but I also get plenty of mail and comments that make me realize by being strong and showing that being bipolar ain't all that bad, more and more people will seek the treatment they need and perhaps one day society will stop it's judgemental ways.

Bipolar syndrome doesn't have to hold a stigma if you don't allow it to. To discover more about bipolar syndrome check out http://www.MyBipolarWorld.com

Mental Health Conditions Affect All Ages

Mental health conditions are common in all nations of the world. According to the National Institute for Mental Health, about 26 percent of Americans aged over 18 years are diagnosed with a mental disorder every year. This equates to almost 60 million people. The NIMH has also found that about 6 percent of those, have been diagnosed with a serious mental condition, many of which may suffer from two or more mental conditions. Mental illness, has been found to be a major cause of disability amongst people, aged between 15 and 44 years in the US and Canada.
Of course, mental conditions are not confined to the adult person, as people of all ages and genders can be affected by the disorder. Many children and adolescents are diagnosed with mental health problems, and special care is needed to treat them adequately. Mental conditions that affect children are varied and may be of a temporary nature, however, specialized treatment should be sought to help reduce the chances of the disorder becoming long term. NIMH reports indicate that about 5 percent of children in North America suffer from bouts of depression. This figure increases to around 8 percent for the number of teenagers who are suffering from anxiety and depression.
Many teenagers are also affected by eating disorders, which can aggravate bouts of depression and lead to other problems such as, phobia, inhibition and learning difficulties. Teenage girls who may be suffering from anxiety or depression are susceptible to anorexia nervosa, a very serious eating disorder, which can lead to grave health concerns, even death. Mental conditions, such as these, need to be treated by mental health care professionals who can help young people to adjust to the circumstances that have brought about their disorders.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a most severe mental health condition that is more likely to affect young boys. Sufferers of ADHD need specialized professional care as well as added personal attention from their parents. A child suffering from ADHD will display little regard for authority and will engage in a range of continuous physical activities much to the detriment of his fellow students, teachers and parents. Treatment, provided by a mental health care professional, for this type of disorder, may include some form of medication.
Early diagnosis of mental health problems, is essential for the successful treatment of the conditions, and the prevention of long term effects that may result in a lasting disability.

For further information, visit: http://itsmentalhealth.com/