Why is it important to seek help?

When was the last time you spoke about your mental health?

If someone asks this question, a few of you will say that not in a long while; some would reply saying that they never brought it up at all. During any social occasion, be it a party, a night out with friends, or a casual hangout with close ones. We speak about everything under the sun. No one wants to be a spoilsport; hence, despite going through something harrowing in their private life, they tend to put on a mask of being fine or stable and try to blend in.

They succeed in making others believe that they are doing well in their lives. Pretending to have it together, but the reality is far from what they project. Whether we like it or not the fact is twenty to twenty-five percent of humankind suffers from some mental illness which is made worse by physical ailments.

If anything the pandemic has taught us is that people are susceptible to illnesses both physical and mental especially when they go into isolation. This indicates that throughout life we try to compete with others thinking that they are adversaries, but when faced with our insecurities and fears, we feel cornered.

Repressing the deep-rooted issues that have bothered us for half our lives can exacerbate the problem. Most are not comfortable confronting the problem, while others feel it’s best to just ignore it and move on. But the truth of the matter is that unresolved issues are like gums that get stuck under the sole of the shoes; they are hard to get rid of.

Individuals who do take the step to recognize their problem and share it with their friends or parents do not receive the help they require. On the contrary, they are treated indifferently. A common piece of advice that you might get to hear is that ‘’you can sap out of it, it happens from time to time’’. Social stigma around mental illness is another major issue that deserves equal emphasis.

If somehow it is found that he or she is going through depression or has anxiety issues; suddenly there is a unanimous conclusion about his character as a whole. That individual is thought of as a liability; he is thought to be inefficient to work with despite having a proven performance record. The reasons are obvious and ubiquitous that stop a person from seeking help, but in the long run, it only serves to be self-damaging.

A common misconception triggered by the media wherein movies and shows exhibited electroconvulsive therapy as the only cure for mental illness also caused to deceive people. While a lack of feasible treatment often proved to be a primary obstacle as well, with the time that has certainly changed. Clinically proven regimens along with procedures for treatments have become far more humane helping to clear the air and boosting public acceptance of the fact that treatments can make a difference.

The big question that remains is how does mental illness treatment help? Well, the answer is quite simple; getting the help that you need regarding dealing with mental issues will help to enhance the quality of your life. It will also help to improve relationships in life, acting as a booster in terms of increasing productivity at work. Overall, it will help to regain the confidence that you lost while traversing through your life, juggling multiple responsibilities at once.

Lastly, it is monumental to remember that your problems do not define you; nothing should stop you from getting the help you deserve.