The subject of mental health is getting more mainstream!
However, people still think of the term mental health as a big stigma.
According to them, going to therapy means you have a mental condition.
Let us clarify one thing,
Everybody is in need of therapy!
This doesn’t mean that every day is going all psycho crazy, but we all need to reflect upon our inner conscience from time to time.
Not only does it help us understand ourselves better, but also it is the best form of self-care.
So, what can we do when we hear these stigmas around mental health? Moreover, what are the most common stigmas, and how can we make sure we stay away from these.
Because there is no point in being discouraged by these stigmas. This is what counselling services from Cassandra says to all their patients.
More often than not, these are just myths that society needs to fight against.
Talking about mental health is okay!
What Are The Common Stigmas Of Mental Health
These are some of the stigmas which have migrated from the time when talking about mental health was frowned upon.
This was when people believed that mental health is nothing, and all it matters is how good of physical health we are.
Although these two are correlated, mental health is a big part of it.
- There are two types of stigma that we are talking about. Social stigma and personal stigma.
- The social stigma is basically stereotypes that are put under different mental health problems. So, for example, depressed people are just sad; and anxious people just don’t know how to calm down, or they are just asking for attention.
- Then comes the personal stigma. These are basically feeling hopeless and thinking there is something wrong with yourself .
- Your mental health problems could stem from environmental and social issues. So, it is not healthy to self-blame.
Ways To Fight Mental Health Stigma
This is just the fight with primitive thoughts of the society, but also combating our own negative beliefs regarding the subject.
Here are the five known ways you can fight mental health stigma.
1. Take Therapy
If you want to remove these stigmas around mental health, it has to start with you. The more you educate yourself, the more you will be able to say no to these stigmas.
Who better to understand more about mental health and the scientific and biological reasons behind them than a therapist. You will be your subject, and you can explore more into your own psyche.
2. Do Your Research
Although taking therapy is excellent, it shouldn’t necessarily end with you. Get your own research if you are really determined about debunking these stigmas.
You can fight something when you are completely aware of that subject.
3. Talk More About Your Problems [The Change Starts From You]
The initiative should always start with you. If you are doubting that a friend is not telling you everything, then share your problems first.
Not all of us suffer from dangerous mental problems, but we all have our days when we feel the worst. Sharing these inner thoughts of our mind will give people the strength to do them as well.
4. Learn The Dos & Don’ts
You have to be aware of a plethora of dos and don’ts. They should start with remembering the terms you are never allowed to say.
These are not just simple words. Rather, they can be extremely triggering for someone. For example, would you talk about your body in front of someone who is suffering from anorexia nervosa?
No!
5. Support Others
At the end of the day, it is not just about you. If you are fighting a cause, you have to be supportive towards others as well.
It is about giving your unsaturated attention and trying to be supportive even if you do not understand their problem from a biological standpoint.
You Are Not Your Illness!
No one should be defined by their illness!
So, speak up against stigma whenever you see someone negatively normalizing them.
If you are really determined about the cause, you can also pursue a career in psychology to understand the human mind better.
