The Truth About Mental Illness
When I was growing up, I used to hear the term mental illness and imagine people with straight jackets in a white room surrounded by padding. The sheer term “illness” convinced me that someone was doomed and that there was no hope. Throughout my experiences and of those close to me, I quickly realized how wrong I was. Mental illness is much more common than we think.
Mental illness is when someone is struggling with an emotional or behavioral disorder. I’ll be honest, I don’t like this definition so I am going to use my mother’s definition, it’s when someone is “sad inside.”
According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), one in five adults struggles with mental illness. Young adults in their 20’s and 30’s are affected the most. It's a point in life when everyone is trying to meet their own self-expectations. This includes having kids, getting married, and achieving career goals. To top it off, there's pressure from one's family combined with internal pressure too. Who wouldn’t feel stressed?
As individuals approach their 40’s and 50’s, still about 15% struggle with mental illness. Take note, these are only REPORTED cases. Some people live with mental illness and are afraid to seek help because of the stigma still attached to it.
Keep in mind, someone struggling could be a person sitting next to you on the subway, the person behind you at the checkout counter, your coworker, a loved one who sits next to you at family dinner, or YOU. No one is exempt from mental illness. The idea is to walk around with EYES WIDE OPEN, whether you are trying to help others or you are the person struggling. I want you to know that there is a way out of the funk. The clouds will clear and you will have clarity.
As you go throughout your day, put your phone down when you’re talking to someone. Help that person feel important. Even your smallest actions can create a positive impact on them. You can never tell when that person won’t be around anymore.
Life is tough sometimes, but so are you. If you are struggling with something, you can always reply back to this email to talk about your struggles. Sometimes even just putting your thoughts on paper helps significantly. Keep in mind that you have many people around you who care about you.
My mission is to help others feel more confident and find joy in their lives through life coaching, wellness coaching, and confidence coaching.
I believe in you and your ability to change the world.
