Last week, we started discussions on mental health. Before we proceed, please permit me to share a story with you.
Sometime last year, my two-and-a-half-year-old outspoken niece, Mojoyinoluwa Oladejo, threw the whole family into panic. Her father bought a head of bush meat and the whole family ate it. According to her mother, my sister, she woke up in the middle of the night and started crying. She held her stomach and complained of stomach pain. She also kept saying, “Akata’s head is in my stomach.” (Akata is the name she gave the animal whereas the animal is called Akika in Yoruba). They rushed her to the hospital and after some injections were administered to her, they were told to take her to another hospital. At that point, my sister said she started crying because she felt her child was poisoned.
At the second hospital, her blood sample was taken but the results showed nothing was wrong with her! Obviously, she might have dreamt about the bush meat head she ate during the day. If something was wrong, all the test results would have shown it.
Sometimes, when there is no medical illness that fully explains the complaint, it may be that emotions are being felt as physical symptoms.
What is mental illness? A mental illness is a health issue. It can affect your thoughts, mood or behaviour. It can impact the way you perceive the world around you. It can cause distress. It may affect how you cope at work, how you function in relationships and your ability to manage everyday tasks. It can last for a short time or for your whole life. Some mild mental illnesses last only a few weeks. Sometimes severe illnesses can be life-long and cause serious disability.
Everyone is at some risk of developing mental health disorders, regardless of age, sex, income or ethnicity. Some examples of these factors include:
- Genetic factors
Having a close family member with a mental illness can increase the chance that you may get a mental illness. However, just because one’s family member has a mental illness does not mean that others will.
- Drug and alcohol abuse
Illicit drug use can trigger a manic episode (bipolar disorder) or an episode of psychosis. Drugs such as cocaine, marijuana and amphetamines can cause paranoia.
- Biological factors
Some medical conditions or chemical imbalances in the brain can lead to one having a neurological disorder such as Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, or having had a traumatic brain injury.
- Early life experience
Examples are adverse childhood experiences such as trauma, neglect or a history of abuse (for example, child abuse, sexual assault, witnessing violence, etc.
- Trauma and stress
In adulthood, traumatic life events or ongoing stress can increase the risk of mental illness. Issues such as social isolation, domestic violence, relationship breakdown, and financial or work problems can impact mental health. Traumatic experiences such as living in a war zone can increase the risk of post-traumatic stress disorder.
- Personality factors
Having feelings of loneliness or isolation, some traits such as perfectionism or low self-esteem can increase the risk of depression or anxiety.
There are many types of mental health disorders. I really do not want to bore you with their names. Instead, let us look at the symptoms you need to look out for.
Each type of mental illness has a different set of symptoms. For example, extreme dieting may be a sign that someone has an eating disorder. Hearing voices could be a sign of psychosis. An ongoing feeling of hopelessness after childbirth could be a sign of postnatal depression. People with depression can have a lasting sadness or low mood. People with anxiety often have excessive worry or fears.
Drastic changes in a person’s thoughts, moods or behaviour can be a sign they have a mental illness. Changes can be sudden or come on gradually over a long period. A person who usually copes well with life may start to have trouble doing their normal activities. These changes can cause them or their loved ones distress. These signs could indicate a mental illness.
Here are some signs of mental illness to look out for:
- Unusual or illogical thoughts
- Unreasonable anger or irritability
- Poor concentration and memory loss, not being able to follow a conversation
- Hearing voices that no one else can hear
- Increased or decreased sleep
- Increased or low appetite, or preoccupation with control over food, calories or excessive exercise
- Lack of motivation
- Withdrawing from people
- Drug use
- Feelings that life is not worth living or suicidal thoughts
- Becoming obsessed with a topic, like death or religion
- Not looking after personal hygiene or other responsibilities
- Not doing as well as usual at school or work
- Thinking of harming yourself or others
- Feeling unusually confused, forgetful, edgy, angry, upset, worried or scared
- Yelling or fighting with family and friends
- Experiencing severe mood swings that cause problems in relationships
- Having persistent thoughts and memories you cannot get out of your head
Let us look at tips for living well with a mental health condition:
- Stick to a treatment plan
- Keep your physician updated
- Learn about the condition
- Practice good self-care
- Reach out to family and friends
- Develop coping skills.
- Get enough rest
A study titled, ‘Impact of adverse childhood experiences on the symptom severity of different mental disorders: A cross-diagnostic study’, by Wenjie Gu et al concludes that adverse childhood experiences are a common phenomenon in those with mental disorders and the level of trauma affects mental disorder severity. Emotional abuse is closely related to many mental disorders. The incidence or severity of mental disorders can be reduced in the future by reducing the incidence of adverse childhood experiences or by timely intervention in childhood trauma.
Another study titled, ‘A Study on Mental Disorders: 5-year Retrospective Study’ by Thalappillil Matthew Celine et al concludes that mood disorder was the most occurring mental disorder and the next leading mental disorder was mental and behavioural disorders due to psychoactive substance use. Counselling can be helpful in preventing most mental disorders.
To most people, the one who walks naked around and speaks incoherently is the one who is mentally ill. That is not true because almost everyone is at risk! Even if you do not have adverse childhood experiences, you may be in relationships or marriages that are threats to your mental health.
Postnatal depression, loneliness or some other life’s traumatic experience may be your own risk factor.
Are you experiencing any of the symptoms enumerated above? There is no shame in seeking help for your mental health; in fact, taking care of your mental health is an act of self-love. See a therapist.
For persons who are already going through critical mental issues, we want you to know that mental illness is not a personal failure, it is a medical condition. Your struggles do not define you and you are capable of creating a life filled with purpose and meaning despite your mental health challenges.
