Mental Illness: The myths debunked.

CHALLENGING MYTHS AND FALLACIES ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH BY AN EXPERIENCED MENTAL HEALTH NURSE.


I have worked in the area of mental health both in a a large "institution" as mental health hospitals used to be called, at inpatient mental health units and on community mental health teams.


It still amazes and saddens me to hear ignorant and uninformed comments about people with mental health issues.

There still is a stigma and often fear regarding the topic of mental health and this article is to provide you with my own experiences and to answer questions you may have regarding mental illness.



ARE PEOPLE WITH A MENTAL ILLNESS MORE DANGEROUS AND DO THEY COMMIT MORE CRIMES?

In my experience very few people with a mental health illness are actually dangerous towards the general public.

They are more likely to be aggressive towards family members when they are paranoid and are not taking medication or are manic. This behavior is usually not personal but is caused by fear and misinterpreting the actions of those they care about. I have nursed people who have commited crimes and some murderers, however there have been far less than those that commit crimes that do not have a mental illness and the majority of these people had not been diagnosed and were not having treatment or medication for their illness.



CAN SOMEONE WITH A MENTAL ILLNESS BE "CURED"?

There are many different types of mental illness and as with any illness, people respond to treatment in different ways.

If someone has an illness for example, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia or depression, there are many different treatment options. Sometimes it can be trial and error to find the right treatment and occassionally there are people that are treatment resistant but in the majority of cases, if they are compliant with treatment and the right help identified then they are able to lead a life the same as someone witthout a mental illness.

Some people develop a mental illness through distressing things that happen to them, very stressful events, too much stress, life changing events eg the birth of a baby, the loss of a loved one, loss of a job and other life changing occurences and these can usually be treated with counseling and sometimes medication.

They are however susceptible to becoming unwell again and need to be aware of this if encounter more stresses and should seek help as soon as possible.



MY DOCTOR HAS TOLD ME I HAVE DEPRESSION AND NEED TO GO ON MEDICATION, CAN I BECOME ADDICTED TO ANTIDEPRESSANTS?

No, antidepressant medication is NOT addictive but if you are also prescibed medications like valium then you need to use these only as prescibed and be aware that you can become tolerant of them, may need higher doses to get the same effect and they can become addictive.



WILL TAKING MEDICATION CHANGE MY PERSONALITY?

No, if anything they should help you feel better, cope better and be able to give you a better quality of life. Initially you may have side effects that can be frightening or make you feel tired or different on some but these usually abate as your body gets used to them, however if these persist advise your doctor. Always learn what side effects to look out for as in rare cases side effects can be potentially life threatening. Do not be afraid to ask your doctor or pharmacist about these as well.



HOW LONG DO ANTIDEPRESSANT MEDICATIONS TAKE TO WORK?

Some doctors will tell you that they will work in a few days however this is not usually the case. Most take at least 2 weeks to work and up to 6 weeks.

If you do not notice any benefit by then you may need a higher dose or to be changed to a different medication, If your doctor does change your medication, ensure you ask them about how to switch over, some need a few days inbetween, some require that you are slowly tapered off your previous medication on to the new one.

Some medications can help symptoms straight away, for example if you have not been sleeping and are prescibed a medication at night, it may have the effect of helping you sleep better, also for people that have lost their appetite, a few medications can assist with this and they may also work straight away on this system. This does not however mean that they are working as an antidepressant already.



IF I KNOW SOMEONE THAT HAS BEEN DEPRESSED FOR A LONG TIME AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY SEEM BETTER OR CURED DOES THIS MEAN THAT THEY ARE?

No, this is very rare and please keep a close eye on them and if you are involved in their care, notify their doctor or case manager. Sometimes people that have been suicidal will make the decision that they are going through with it and will seem "better". This is because they are no longer tormented with whether they want to live or die and will often start putting their affairs in order, for example, writing their will, giving things away and paying off debts. This should be a warning sign if it has happened very quickly.



IF SOMEONE WITH DEPRESSION TELLS ME THEY ARE NOW BETTER WHEN THEY DO NOT APPEAR IT, HOW CAN I FIND OUT IF THIS IS TRUE?

This is a difficult question and the closer your relationship is with the person the better chance you have of finding out.

Some things to look out for are their body language, do they appear to have energy? Do they appear to have interest in things again? Are they sleeping well? An alarm bell for professionals is what is known as EMW (Early morning wakening). Many people with depression will wake at around 2am or 3am and are unable to return to sleep for several hours.

If you are very concerned about their well being, show them that you really care but in a non judgemental, questioning or threatening way. An example "Jane, you are telling me that you are better now but I am still concerned about you, is there anything you would like to talk about". This may help them feel cared about and safe enough to open up to you.


If you require further information regarding how I can help you online, please visit:
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DISCLAIMER
This information is from personal experience only, if you have any concerns then please consult your medical doctor.

　

How to free your child from anxiety.

Anxiety and depression often go hand in hand in both children and adults.
The first step is to recognize that your child is struggling and the urgency of their need for help needs to be assessed as even children can be at high risk of self harm and/or suicide.
In these cases you should enlist professional help immediately from your GP, local hospital or local mental health service.
All services should have a Child and Youth department within them.

It is also important to know what anxiety is and what to look out for.
Is it an ongoing problem or a one off where they may have been subject to a bully?

Symptoms to look out for:
Children may worry excessively about lots of things: school, their own safety and health, the health of family members and friends, money, and their family's security. The list is endless.
A child with anxiety may always imagine the worst possible thing that could happen.
They may also experience physical symptoms because of these worries, like headaches and stomach aches.
Your child may also isolate themselves, avoiding school and friends because they are so overwhelmed by their worries.
In some cases they may start bed wetting.

The management plan developed for a young person with anxiety will be dependent upon a range of factors including: The severity of symptoms, their age, health services available, both in terms of actual services to refer to and the skills and experiences of workers involved, other presenting health issues (it is a good idea to get your GP to check them out first as this will often also be the first thing a professional will ask you to do), what support network are available, including family and friends, or school supports, the young persons' preference for a particular treatment approach.
Older children may benefit from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or other types of counseling.
It is also important to consider what is going on around them and at home for them, eg have they had a falling out with a friend, has their been marital problems at home, separation of family members, an upheaval of location and schools, a loss of a family member or favorite pet, conflict?

Supporting your child at home:
If your child shows signs of anxiety, there are some general strategies you can try at home. If your child is being treated for anxiety by a professional, you should discuss these strategies with that person first.

Acknowledge your child’s fear – don’t dismiss or ignore it.
Let your child know you’re there to support and care for them.
Try and ascertain if there is anything distressing them at present.
Consider and in a non confrontational way enquire about any drug or alcohol use or if they are being pressure by their peers to use substances.
Gently encourage your child to do the things that they are anxious about. But don’t push them to face situations they don't want to face. Wait until your child actually gets anxious before you step in to help. Praise your child for doing something they are anxious about.
Avoid labelling your child as ‘shy’ or ‘anxious’. Try to refer to them as ‘brave’ or a similarly positive term. After all, your child is trying to overcome their difficulties.
Exercise and activities that distract or relax them can also be helpful.
Try to be a good role model by managing your own stress and anxiety.
# Never punish your child for things like mistakes on schoolwork or lack of progress.


If you still have questions then please contact me if you would like to know how I can assist you online at:

http://www.online4youetherapyaustralia.com/