Mental health is something that includes our emotional, psychological and social well-being. It will affect how we feel, think and act. Affecting how we handle stress, making choices and relate to others. Mental health is important through every life stage, from childhood through to adulthood. Mental health problems are common, but there is lots of help available. Mental health and what, who and how is concerns others should be taught in school, university and work environments. However it isn't, but it is something you should be aware of. Taking a read of this article will allow you to be able to even briefly understand the different types of problems, who to speak too and how to help others who are struggling.
Anxiety disorders
In 2019, 301 million people were living with an anxiety disorder including 58 million children and adolescents. There are multiple anxiety disorders that occur in individuals. Everyone experiences anxiety, fear and worries sometimes. There are multiple reasons that these feelings can occur; for example, worry about a job interview. Your brain responds to threat or danger by releasing stress hormones such as adrenaline or cortisol. An anxiety disorder can be interruptive of your daily routine and an ongoing feeling. Whilst making you feel like things are a lot worse than they actually are in reality. Everyone who experiences this will have different symptoms and reactions. Some mental anxiety symptoms can include: uncontrollable overthinking, feeling irritable, dissociation, problems with sleeping etc. Whereas some psychical symptoms can include: sweating, fast and heavy breathing, shaking, fast heartbeat, extreme tiredness or lack of energy etc. These are something that shouldn't be left untreated, it can lead to depression. If you or anyone is experiencing this please receive some help.
Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD)
BDD is an anxiety disorder relating to body image. Which closely relates to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). BDD can vary in severity from person to person and from day to day. This disorder may make it difficult to go out in public and see other people, also massively affecting your work life and relationships with other people. Many people with this will not seek help as they as worried that people are going to judge them or think they are being 'vain'. Leading to this progressively getting worse, with worsen experiences before seeking help. This is mostly common in teenagers and young adults, due to the stigma of social media. This affects both men and woman.
Social media affects on mental health
A lot of time is spent on social media. It will help up stay in contact with friends, share our interests and lives whilst also staying up to date with whats happening in the world. However the experience of social media doesn't always lead to a positive experience. Peer pressure, misinformation, distressing content and unrealistic representations of others' lives will all take a toll on self-esteem and progressively lead to feelings of anxiety. It is also very easy to get absorbed in a spiral of different content that fuels negative thought therefore having a big impact on our mood.
Over the past few years psychologists have begun to look at the effects of social media on mental wellbeing. Through much of this research it shows that heavy use of social media is associated with poorer mental health. Heavy use of social media disturbs sleep schedules, poorly used as a life comparing tool and a constant chase of getting likes drives an individuals self-esteem/ self-worth. This all leads to poor mental health in young individuals at their growing stage in their life, which can cause long term effects on them.
Help
Getting help is a lot easier than many individuals anticipate. Finding this early will save lots of long term causes which can further effect the people around you. There are many helplines online as well as speaking to your GP.
If you notice this is anyone around you, or notice this behaviour in yourself, it is much better to get the help needed. These helplines and doctors will have your best interest at heart and will provide you with the correct information and treatments before it can get any worse.