I recently read the first chapter of the book: "Misunderstood: A Guide To Mental Wellness: Insights to Help You Understand Yourself and those You Love".
I began reading the chapter as part of an assignment, but my curiosity and strong interest in the topic compelled me to read the whole book.
Health is characterised as 'a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being,' and not just the absence of disease.
Reading this chapter felt like experiencing a rollercoaster of emotions. The author, Sree Krishna Seelam, starts the book by illustrating the helplessness his daughter experienced when she couldn't express her discomfort. Many people face similar situations, living their lives aware that something is wrong, feeling uneasy, wanting to improve, but unable to articulate it or seek help, feeling isolated and increasingly lonely as time passes. Two men. Two different lives. One silent struggle.
Experiencing a mental illness often brings along numerous challenges. These can include a lack of empathy, mood swings, social withdrawal, reduced functioning, heightened sensitivity, loss of appetite, sleep disturbances, low energy, and more. Unfortunately, during such times, you might inadvertently hurt others while you are in pain. The mood swings, lack of empathy, and increased sensitivity arise from one issue but can lead to many others.
The scary thing about mental health issues is that one can never fully express the pain, and one can never completely understand it, yet it is all very real. In the world of science, things that can be seen, heard, and tasted are often considered to exist. Psychology stands as the only science lacking a clear definition and a definitive rulebook. The only science which is not universal, which brings us to the major problem regarding mental health being discussed in the book: misdiagnosis. It is important to note that not everything is a symptom, and hence not every symptom needs to be diagnosed, not everyone who goes to a psychiatrist is mentally ill. Each individual is unique, each mind is distinct. No two stories are alike, everyone has a different past; therefore, each diagnosis must be unique.
The "Rosenhan Experiment" exposed a fundamental risk in the field of psychology. It was carried out by a Stanford University professor, David Rosenhan, in 1972. The study involved 8 pseudo-patients, including Rosenhan himself, who pretended to experience auditory hallucinations to gain entry into psychiatric hospitals. The results were astonishing. All the pseudo-patients were admitted and diagnosed with psychiatric disorders, mainly schizophrenia. Even after behaving normally post-admission, they were still regarded as mentally ill. Their normal behaviours were interpreted as those of a mentally ill person. The treatment they received was different. In a subsequent study, Rosenhan informed a hospital staff that he would send pseudo-patients in the upcoming months. Expecting them, the staff mistakenly identified a significant number of real patients as pseudo-patients. It questioned the validity of psychiatric diagnoses. Once a person was wrongly diagnosed as mentally ill, they remained labeled as such. Their usual behavior was seen as a symptom of mental illness, sometimes leading to mistreatment and a lack of necessary compassion.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 1 in 8 people globally (around 970 million) are affected by a mental disorder, making it one of the leading causes of health problems worldwide. However, it remains one of the most neglected. Mental illness is often dismissed, with individuals being labeled as overly sensitive, when in reality, it is a plea for help, similar to how a child cries when unable to sleep. Those with mental illnesses are not treated the same as those with physical illnesses, primarily due to a lack of awareness, highlighting the need for mental health education from an early age.
An intriguing idea presented in this book is the mind's spectrum, similar to an odometer. Our position on this spectrum at any given moment is temporary and ever-changing, which is important to acknowledge. Some days, we might find ourselves obsessing over something, while on others, we might not care about it at all. This fluctuation doesn't necessarily indicate a mental disorder; it's simply part of being human. The spectrum can be adjusted back to "normal" through methods like therapy or meditation. The author encourages us to ask, "Where are you right now? And most importantly, where do you want to be?" This approach helps us understand our current state, calm down, and manage the situation.
Mental and physical health are interconnected. Our brain regulates all bodily functions, making mental health equally vital. Therefore, a comprehensive approach, kindness and awareness are necessary for maintaining a good health.
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