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.
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