The silent struggle: Poor Mental Health.

Anyone can suffer from mental health problems. While certain individuals or groups are more vulnerable, no one is immune to mental health problems. There are some early warning signs that you should be aware of that suggest something may be harming your mental health. Mental health conditions include; Mental disorders and psychosocial disabilities. Therefore, Mental disorders are conditions that affect a person’s mood, thinking, and behavior. Disorders can be short term, long term, or come and go while psycho-social disabilities are disabilities that can result from amental health issue and can impact a person’s ability to function in their daily lives i.e.; difficulties in memory and challenges with communication.

Do you Know what Mental Health is?
It is a state of emotional, psychological and social well-being that allows people to cope with life’s challenges, stress enabling them to realize their abilities and contribute to their community. Poor mental health: Our point of focus in this article is a state of distress or impaired functioning that can affect a person’s thinking, mood or behavior. Poor mental health can make it difficult for one to cope with life and it feels as bad as a physical illness.

Some of the symptoms of poor mental health

• Sadness, tearfulness or hopelessness
• Worrying about bad things happening
• Difficulty in concentration
• Restlessness
• Tense muscles
• Interrupted sleep

Types of Poor Mental Health

1. Mood disorders such as Depression and Bipolar disorder.

Depression

It is a mental health condition that can affect how a person feels, thinks, and behaves. It can cause a low mood, loss of interest in activities, and a general sense of unhappiness. Depression can also impact a person’s relationships, work, and school life. Approximately 280 million people in the world have depression with an estimation of 5% being adults thus Depression is a very common mental health disorder.

Causes of Depression

• Depression can be caused by genetic, biological, environmental, and psychological factors.
• People who have experienced abuse, severe losses, or other stressful events are more likely to develop depression.
• Depression can also be linked to other mental disorders or chronic illnesses

Symptoms of Depression

• Low mood or sadness for at least two weeks.
• Loss of interest in activities.
• Changes in sleep patterns.
• Slowed physical activity, speech, and thinking.
• Appetite and weight changes.
• Trouble concentrating or making decisions.
• Feelings of worthlessness or guilt.

Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is a mental illness that causes extreme mood swings, often called maniac depressive episodes. People with bipolar disorder experience periods of mania and depression that can last for days or weeks. It is reported that 2.8% of the world’s population is estimated to be affected by Bipolar disorder.

Below are symptoms of Bipolar Disorders

Manic episodes

• Having an inflated sense of self-worth
• Having trouble concentrating and being easily distracted
• Reckless or risk-taking behaviour
• Feeling very happy, excited, overactive.
• Talking quickly and rapidly shifting from one idea to the next.
• Decreased need for sleep.

Depressive episodes

• Feeling sad, indifferent, or hopeless.
• Having difficulty concentrating and making decisions.
• Having low energy and fatigue.
• Having thoughts of death or suicide.

The causes of bipolar disorder are vast for example; Difficult experiences in childhood, like abuse or losing someone important, stressful events, family history of bipolar disorder, some medications, alcohol, and drugs and so many more.

2. Anxiety Disorder

An anxiety disorder is a mental health condition that involves persistent and uncontrollable feelings of fear and anxiety. These feelings can be so severe that they interfere with a person’s daily life

Symptoms of anxiety disorder

• Excessive worrying about everyday situations or specific events.
• Difficulty concentrating or making decisions.
• Feeling irritable, tense, or restless.
• Nausea, abdominal distress, or heart palpitations.
• Sweating, trembling, or shaking.
• Trouble sleeping.
• Feeling like you’re in danger, panicking, or doomed.
• Physical symptoms like headaches, muscle aches, or stomach aches.

Causes of Anxiety

• Life events like financial struggles, discrimination.
• Substance use, including stimulants, widrawl
• Brain structure or function, Genetics and Past Trauma.

3. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

PTSD Is a mental health condition that can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event.

Causes of PTSD

• Experiencing or witnessing a life-threatening event, such as a natural disaster, act of violence, or serious accident.
• Having additional problems after the event, such as losing a loved one or job.
• Lacking social support after the event.
• Having a history of mental health problems or substance misuse.

Symptoms of PTSD

• Unwanted memories of the event that can feel like the event.
• Constantly thinking about the event and asking yourself why it happened.
• Feeling fear, blame, guilt, anger, or shame.
• Feeling irritable, having angry outbursts, or being easily startled.
• Having trouble concentrating or sleeping

4. Eating Disorders

Is a mental disorder defined by abnormal eating behaviours that adversely affect a person’s physical or mental health. These behaviours may include eating either too much or too little. Trauma, anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder and other mental health issues can increase the likelihood of an eating disorder.

Causes of Poor Mental health
Poor mental health causes, include biological, psychological, social and other factors;

• Genetics: A family history of mental illness can increase the risk of developing a mental illness.
• Physical health: A serious medical condition like cancer or a chronic condition like diabetes can impact mental health.
• Brain chemistry: Chemical imbalances in the brain can contribute to mental illness.
• Prenatal exposure: Exposure to viruses, toxic chemicals, alcohol, or drugs before birth can impact mental health.
• Personality: Traits like perfectionism or low self-esteem can increase the risk of depression or anxiety.
• Relationships: Domestic violence, relationship breakdown, can impact mental health.
• Social isolation: Feeling lonely or isolated can impact mental health.
• Discrimination: Racism, poverty stigma, and spatial stigma can impact mental health.
• Trauma: Traumatic experiences like military combat, abuse, or neglect can impact mental health.
• Stressful life situations: like financial problems, a loved one’s death, or divorce can impact mental health.
• Substance use: like alcohol or recreational drugs can impact mental health.

Here are some of the ways on how to improve your mental health:

• Exercise; Physical activity can improve your mood and help you feel better about your body. Try walking, dancing, yoga, cycling, or gardening.
• Eat well; A balanced diet with lots of fruits and vegetables can help improve your mood.
• Sleep well; Try to go to bed and wake up at the same time each day. Avoid caffeine, alcohol, and large meals before bed.
• Practice gratitude; Try to focus on the good things in your life. You can write in a journal, send thank you cards, or help others.
• Stay connected; Spend time with friends and family, or connect with them through video calls or messaging apps.
• Practice mindfulness; Be aware of what’s happening around you and inside your head. You can try taking some deep breaths.
• Set goals; Having goals can help you feel motivated and energized.
• Practice forgiveness; Try to forgive people, even if it’s just for a minor offense.
• Take a break from social media; Try to focus on real-life connections instead of comparing yourself to others.

To wrap up, poor mental health remains a silent critical issue affecting millions of people worldwide that demands our attention and actions. Its impact is not only personal but extends to families, workplaces, and communities. It is essential that we continue to break down the barriers to accessing mental health care, increase public education, and foster an environment of empathy and support. Together, we can ensure that those struggling with mental health challenges receive the understanding and treatment they need to lead fulfilling lives!

Prepared by;
Nabisere Yudaya