May is Mental Health Month, a time set aside to increase awareness and reduce the stigma concerning mental health related issues. If you’re like most people, you have probably always thought of mental health or mental illness as something you just don’t talk about even with family, friends or medical professionals! But if there’s one thing living in the midst of an ongoing pandemic has taught us, it’s that mental health issues should be talked about out in the open because it can happen to anyone, especially during a crisis.
Thanks to Covid and its mutating viruses, I think we realize that experiencing a mental health issue is normal whether it’s Anxiety; Depression; Panic Attacks; an obsessive-compulsive disorder; or an Attention Deficit and/or Hyperactivity Disorder, etc. Now, we understand that having a mental health issue doesn’t necessarily mean that you are mentally ill. It just means you are experiencing a problem at a particular moment in your life.
People who have these “glitches in the brain” as I call them, learn to cope with them by working through them until they pass - although they never really go away... They seek help by talking with friends, family members or others who have the same or a similar problem; ask for advice from a trusted, regular physician; or get helpful tips from reputable websites. I don’t think it matters what kind of help they get as long as it resolves the issue.
However, if they aren’t able to cope with a “glitch” and the problem begins to interfere with every aspect of their lives from getting ready in the morning to taking care of their kids to doing their job or if they have a more serious issue like substance abuse and/or addiction; Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder; suicidal thoughts; Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder, etc., then they will need professional help. (Click to search the SC Directory of Mental Health Centers & Clinics or the National Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator.) Whether you’re a parent who needs help or the parent of a teen who is having difficulties, we know help is out there. We wish you luck with your recovery.
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