Talk about It

Did you know that one in four Americans suffer from some kind of diagnosable mental disorder? That’s about 25% of all American adults. A lot of these people suffer from multiple disorders. Often, depressive disorders co-occur with substance use disorders and anxiety disorders.

About 18% of adults have an anxiety disorder. These could include phobias, generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder. What does all of this mean? Mental health struggles are part of the human experience. If you’re not personally suffering, odds are you know at least several people who are, even though many people hide it very well.

What if, instead of having to hide it, it became an acceptable thing to talk about, in much the same way heart disease and other common ailments are okay to talk about? Do you think that would help people feel a little less alone? A little less shamed about experiencing these difficulties? It’s hard enough to deal with struggles with mental health.

The stigma that’s placed on people who suffer only makes the problem worse. When people feel embarrassed or ashamed of their illness, they’re less likely to seek help. So, they suffer longer and oftentimes needlessly. Help is available and can be extremely effective. I would challenge you to embrace mental disorders as part of what makes humans human. It’s part of a lot of people’s experience.

Mental illness doesn’t define a person, but it is certainly a part of who they are. If we are to embrace and love those around us, we need to accept that they might have these additional struggles and perhaps have a little more grace and understanding for those around us.