Common Myths about Mental Illness
The lack of awareness and common stigmas surrounding mental health have led to a number of misconceptions and myths about who can benefit from therapy and what mental wellbeing really means.
There are many stereotypes and attitudes that surround mental illness. These result in the judgement, discrimination, and isolation of people with mental illness, as well as their families and careers.
8 Mental Health Myths and Facts:
Myth 1: People with mental health conditions cannot work.
An old but persistent myth is that people with mental health issues cannot be hired to a job or be useful members of the workforce. This is entirely false.
It is true that someone living with a particularly severe mental health condition might be unable to carry out regular work. However, the majority of people with mental health issues can be as productive as individuals without mental health disorders.
Myth 2: Eating disorders only affect females.
There is a stereotype that eating disorders are the domain of young, white, wealthy females. However, the truth is that they can affect anyone.
Myth 3: All people with a mental illness are violent.
As the world becomes more aware of mental health conditions, this misconception is slowly dying away. Even individuals who are experiencing the most serious conditions, such as schizophrenia, are mostly nonviolent.
Myth 4: Mental illness is incurable and lifelong.
With the right kind of help, treated appropriately and early, most people recover fully and have no further episodes of illness. For other people, mental illness may recur throughout their lives and require ongoing treatment. This is the same as many physical illnesses, such as diabetes and heart disease.
Myth 5: Mental illness is caused by a personal weakness.
A mental illness is not a character flaw. It is caused by a complex interplay of genetic, biological, social and environmental factors. Seeking and accepting help is a sign of resilience and strength.
Myth 6: People with bipolar disorder are moody.
Bipolar disorder does not cause mood swings. It causes cycles that last for weeks or months. People so often throw around the term “bipolar” to describe the weather. When they say this, it downplays the seriousness of the condition and creates misinformation about what bipolar disorder actually is.
Myth 7: Memory problems are a normal aspect of aging.
In fact memory problems belong to a group of disorders called dementia. These are real medical illnesses that can be controlled to improve the patient’s quality of life.
Myth 8: Children don’t experience mental health problems.
Even very young children may show early warning signs of mental health concerns. These mental health problems are often clinically diagnosable, and can be a product of the interaction of biological, psychological, and social factors.
To know more facts and information about mental illness, you can contact Dr. Carla and benefit from a free consultation
