Mental health wellness is as equally as important as taking care of your physical body, if not more so. That is because mental health deals with how a person thinks, feels, and acts towards himself and others. When something is wrong with the brain, that disturbance in one’s thinking and behaviour is more life-threatening than catching a cold or spraining an ankle.
Despite its significance and prevalence among the population, there is still some stigma and misconceptions surrounding the issue. These negative beliefs can be dangerous, especially if the affected person will think they can manage by themselves without the proper treatment. If it’s reasonable to seek the help of experts, like tax consultants and property and construction accountants, for your business, what more if the problem point is the body’s most vital organ?
Anxiety disorder is one of the most common mental health issues, affecting close to 40 million adults in the United States, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America. Sadly, even if it is considered treatable, only 36.9% avail of treatment. Many people don’t understand the true nature of anxiety, wrongly thinking that it’s only a bid for attention or that it can cease to exist by choosing to be happy. They muddle the discussion and dissuade people suffering from learning more about the illness.
Here are the four biggest myths that everyone should be aware of and leave in the past:
Myth: Your anxiety will disappear if you live a healthy lifestyle
While exercising regularly, eating right, and practicing meditation can help manage anxiety, they are only band-aid solutions. They treat the symptoms but do not address the underlying causes. It can be dangerous to hype up these wellness programs as an alternative cure. People will think that they wouldn’t need to consult a psychiatrist anymore and just focus on sticking to exercise routines and a ketogenic diet. All they can do is be a supplement to actual therapy and medication. It is only through proper treatment can a person know about their anxiety triggers, how to tolerate and manage symptoms, and change negative thinking patterns. Without this knowledge, people will only be running away from their problems.
Myth: Suppressing your feelings will make it go away
Like with other problems, avoiding addressing your feelings of anxiety will only make it worse. Being in denial can’t equip you with the tools and knowledge to learn how to get through what you’re feeling. You can never avoid your triggers forever, and you’ll end up helpless and disabled when there’s nowhere left to run. One anxiety treatment prescribed by psychologists is exposure therapy. It involves creating a safe and low-risk space to introduce gradual contact with the anxiety source. In time, patients will be able to confront and navigate through their fears.
Myth: Anxiety is hereditary and a personality trait
Some research shows that anxiety can be genetic, especially if you and your parents and relatives are exposed to the same environmental factors and upbringing. However, this doesn’t mean that you should accept it as a fact of life and adopt your family’s unhealthy coping mechanisms. Discussions and treatments for mental health illnesses are more accessible nowadays compared to the previous generation. It’s better to break the cycle, through employing science-backed solutions, than let it fester and affect the next generation.
Focusing on wellness means taking care of the physical, emotional, and mental aspects of the human body. With the right information and treatment, different disorders like anxiety can cease to be a hindrance in living a fulfilling life.
