In recent years, mental health has slowly emerged from the shadows. After centuries of marginalization, our mental state is gradually receiving more attention, being openly treated by healthcare professionals and people with mental disorders. Unfortunately, many individuals still misinterpret or discriminate against those with mental health problems, based on negative, false, and harmful social perceptions. Check out the list below of 10 common phrases about mental disorders that are nothing more than myths and negative stereotypes.
10. A mental disorder is the same as insanity
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Mental illness is nothing to be ashamed of. It’s a medical problem, like heart disease or diabetes. Anyone who suffers from a mental disorder suffers from a mental illness. A person is neither mad nor weak, but sick and needs treatment. Mental illness is common and treatable, with the majority of individuals being diagnosed and properly treated, continuing to live their normal lives.
9. People with mental health problems are dangerous
The vast majority of people who have a mental health problem are no more violent than those who don’t. People with serious mental illnesses such as schizophrenia are more than 10 times more likely to be a victim of violent crime than people in the general population. There is no reason to fear a person with a mental illness just because of the diagnosis.
8. Mental health issues are rare
Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, the above statement was wrong. Today, the statement is farther from the truth than it ever was. In 2001, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that “1 in 4 people in the world will be affected by a mental or neurological disorder at some point in their lives.” Currently, 450 million people live in these conditions. As the World Health Organization explains, mental disorders are among the leading causes of health problems and disabilities worldwide.
7. Depression and sadness are the same thing
Sadness and depression are not the same thing. Grief is a feeling that all human beings go through in difficult situations such as the loss of a loved one, a family member, or a friend. Depressive disorder is a syndrome, i.e. a group of symptoms that, in addition to feeling sad, includes cognitive symptoms (changes in memory and concentration), changes in vital functions such as sleep and appetite, decreased ability to feel pleasure and the motivation to engage in various activities.
6. People with mental health issues can stop feeling this way
It is true that people with mental health issues can get better, and many make a full recovery. However, this does not happen overnight or simply by mentally wishing yourself to get better. Recovery may include medication, therapy, or other treatments and often includes a combination of these.
5. People with mental health problems can’t work
There is an old but persistent myth that people with mental health issues cannot hold a job or be useful members of the workforce. This is completely wrong. It is true that a person with a particularly serious mental health problem may not be able to do regular work. However, most people with mental health issues can be just as productive as individuals without any disorders.
4. People with panic disorder do not leave the house
Panic syndrome is characterized by a ‘fear of fear’, which can be so intense and generate so much anxiety that the person takes defensive measures to protect themselves from these threats. With proper treatment, this condition can be reversed.
3. Mental health problems are a sign of weakness
This is no more true than saying that a broken leg is a sign of weakness. Mental disorders are diseases and are not signs that an individual cannot cope with life situations. Likewise, people with depression, for example, can’t “get out” of it any more than a person with diabetes or psoriasis can recover from right away.
2. Panic and fear are the same thing
Fear is the body’s natural reaction to something or to a potentially threatening situation. It is closely related to the survival instinct, as it is a natural reaction to self-preservation. In the panic attacks that characterize panic syndrome, this fear is so intense that it can get out of control, and it can be caused by reasonable or unreasonable causes. Panic is more intense, it is an uncontrollable fear that causes a lot of suffering, and can lead to phobias.
1. Mental health issues are permanent
A mental health diagnosis is not necessarily a ‘lifetime penalty’. Everyone’s experience with mental illness varies. Some people may go through episodes in which they go back to their “normal” version. Others may find treatments — medications or talk therapies — that restore balance to their lives.
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