Myths about mental illness:
- Mental illness only happens in people with weak minds and other personal weaknesses.
- People with mental illness aren't "normal" people
- Mental illnesses are contagious
- The best protection against mental illness is to avoid those who have them
- People with mental illnesses are aggressive, and violent
- Mental illness only affects a small amount of people
- Being mentally ill is the same as being mentally disabled
- Mental illness is all in the mind and people can snap out of it
The Truth
People with a mental illness are no different than anyone else. They're capable of doing everyday tasks, and work with no complications; you may even have some in your community and don't even know it. No one knows exactly what causes mental illness but scientists are on the verge of discovering the cause. So far research has found that a combo of genetic, psychological,biological, and environmental factors that lead to mental illness.
Genetic:Scientist believe that it can be passed down through genetics, yet that doesn't mean that just because a parent has a mental illness that the child will have the same illness. However, it does mean that the child is more susceptible to illness and may be triggered later in life through psychological trauma, or environmental factors.
Biological: Certain illnesses have actually been traced back to the human brain, more specifically a chemical called neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters aid nerve cells in the brain to communicate with each other, if they're unbalanced or aren't working properly it can lead to symptoms of mental illness. Also, brain injuries or defects may also cause illness.
Psychological: Another cause for illness is psychological trauma experienced during childhood, or adolescence. Traumatic events like the death of a parent at a very young age, extreme neglect, or severe emotional physical and sexual abuse stay with a person throughout their lifetime and that trauma can trigger mental illnesses.
Environmental: Ones environment also affects the mind more than one would think. When there's a stressful environment it can trigger illness in those more susceptible to mental illnesses. Things like divorce, death, changing jobs or schools, a dysfunctional family, low self esteem, anger, depression, loneliness, social or cultural expectations, and living in poverty are all examples of very stressful environmental factors that all can lead to a mental illness.
Whatever the cause may be it's clear that Mental illness can affect anyone regardless of hygiene, culture, intellect, age, or race. An illness doesn't mean that a person is any different or less than anyone else. They're just regular people living with a non contagious illness that impairs certain abilities. So, people have to understand mental illness shouldn't receive different treatment, they're not disabled they're capable human beings and they deserve fair treatment. Mental illness can be treated, people can get better and if you want to actually help someone with illness you can start with Kindness.
People with a mental illness are no different than anyone else. They're capable of doing everyday tasks, and work with no complications; you may even have some in your community and don't even know it. No one knows exactly what causes mental illness but scientists are on the verge of discovering the cause. So far research has found that a combo of genetic, psychological,biological, and environmental factors that lead to mental illness.
Genetic:Scientist believe that it can be passed down through genetics, yet that doesn't mean that just because a parent has a mental illness that the child will have the same illness. However, it does mean that the child is more susceptible to illness and may be triggered later in life through psychological trauma, or environmental factors.
Biological: Certain illnesses have actually been traced back to the human brain, more specifically a chemical called neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters aid nerve cells in the brain to communicate with each other, if they're unbalanced or aren't working properly it can lead to symptoms of mental illness. Also, brain injuries or defects may also cause illness.
Psychological: Another cause for illness is psychological trauma experienced during childhood, or adolescence. Traumatic events like the death of a parent at a very young age, extreme neglect, or severe emotional physical and sexual abuse stay with a person throughout their lifetime and that trauma can trigger mental illnesses.
Environmental: Ones environment also affects the mind more than one would think. When there's a stressful environment it can trigger illness in those more susceptible to mental illnesses. Things like divorce, death, changing jobs or schools, a dysfunctional family, low self esteem, anger, depression, loneliness, social or cultural expectations, and living in poverty are all examples of very stressful environmental factors that all can lead to a mental illness.
Whatever the cause may be it's clear that Mental illness can affect anyone regardless of hygiene, culture, intellect, age, or race. An illness doesn't mean that a person is any different or less than anyone else. They're just regular people living with a non contagious illness that impairs certain abilities. So, people have to understand mental illness shouldn't receive different treatment, they're not disabled they're capable human beings and they deserve fair treatment. Mental illness can be treated, people can get better and if you want to actually help someone with illness you can start with Kindness.