It is natural to ask for help to feel better and stop the hurt when you get injured. However, when you notice signs of mental illness such as; depression, loneliness, anxiety or hopelessness, you immediately perceive others are judging you; this is the case for most people who struggle every day with mental disorders. The stigma attached to it is so strong that people prefer suffering in silence instead of asking for help. Asking for help is often considered a sign of weakness.
MYND Integrative Counselling is a reputable mental health service in Oldham, helping people overcome the stigma of mental illness. They provide integrative and online counselling with personalised plans. The qualified counsellor offers individual assistance to patients suffering from relationship or family issues, work stress, problems related to general anxiety, low self-esteem or mood counselling. The counsellor is MNCS accredited, a specialist for adult mental health, also providing treatment solutions for alcohol addiction.
The Stigma of Mental Health Illness
The reality of the stigma surrounding mental illness is too real to believe. People start seeing you in a negative light because of a particular character attribute that you possess. When people begin negatively treating you because of your mental illness, it is called discrimination. The ugly truth of this stigma is more harmful and causes long term repercussions to the person who has a mental illness.
The fear of stigma deters people from seeking treatment and help. It causes a severe lack of understanding between family members and friends as the person cannot communicate what they go through. Eventually, it hinders important relationships.
The judgment also stems from the lack of understanding and knowledge amongst people. You should learn to accept this condition and take appropriate steps to treat it. This way, you can help the person who is suffering.
How to Cope With It?
1. Seek help
You must seek help as soon as possible. While this is a real challenge, you can attempt to overcome it with time. With help from your friends, family and close ones, you can overcome the fear of being labelled. Having mental health issues should not stop you in any way from getting treatment from counsellors.
2. Do not believe it
You should never allow other people’s ignorance to get in the way of your feelings. Mental illness is not a sign of weakness. You can talk to healthcare professionals and experienced counsellors for fast recovery.
3. Don’t hide it
People with mental illness tend to isolate themselves away from the world. You can try to reconnect with your friends and family and get all the support you need.
4. Connect with other
You can join a mental health support group to talk about your problems to other individuals suffering from the same troubles. This way, you can deal with your feelings of isolation and express your problems too. Share your own experiences about mental health and listen to others; it is nothing shameful that you have to hide from the rest of the world.