7/9/2020 10 Mythical Monsters of Mental Health - dummies

  Health  Mental Health  10 Mythical Monsters of Mental Health

10 Mythical Monsters of Mental Health

By Rhena Branch, Rob Willson

Psychological problems are no more mysterious than physical ones. In the recent past (and even
today) people often viewed mental health problems as a sign of intrinsic character aws. If your
body has a problem, that’s understandable, but if your mind has a problem, then something must
be wrong with the whole of you.

Not true. Mind and body aren’t separate entities; you’re no more to blame for psychological
problems than for physical problems. The points in this list highlight and bust many myths
surrounding mental health. Some contradict one another, yet people often nd that they hold
more than one con icting negative idea at the same time!

If you are embarking on cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), good for you! Getting help for
mental health issues or behaviors is nothing to be ashamed about; in fact, congratulations on
working toward a healthier you.

Psychological problems mean you’re weak

When you’re depressed or su ering from anxiety or panic (to name but a few), you’re in a
diminished state; you’re ill or are in a weakened state. Would you consider yourself weak for having
a bout of u or epilepsy? Probably (and hopefully) not. Weakened through illness doesn’t equal
weak as an overall person.

Similarly, mental strength doesn’t equal mental health. Many resilient people who pride themselves
as ‘copers’ nd periods of poor mental health particularly hard to accept. Even people with jobs
that require tremendous mental fortitude such as parents, teachers, nurses, surgeons, remen,

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paramedics, the military, performers and athletes can and do su er periods of mental illness. So if
someone tells you that she’s never had any psychological problems in her life, it doesn’t mean that
she’s stronger than you; it means that she’s either extraordinarily fortunate or lying.

I should be able to get better on my own

Should you, though? This monster myth dances a damaging duo with the one in the preceding
section. Shame about mental ill health leads to secrecy and tends to keep people su ering in
silence for a long time. We may be writing a self-help book, but that’s only one way to get better.

Mental health professionals exist because everyone needs help to overcome problems; you
can’t always do it all by yourself. There’s no virtue in su ering needlessly, so get help sooner
rather than later.

Mental health is an either/or issue

Like your physical body, your mind is ever vulnerable to injury or illness. A very bad episode in your
life such as a trauma can leave you psychologically injured. You need proper care to repair.
Protracted periods of stress can wear you down and leave you open to a nasty bout of depression.
Even if you su er from a chronic mental health disorder like bipolar disorder, you’re not always
mentally unwell. With the appropriate medication and treatment, you can lead a stable life much
the same as someone su ering from epilepsy or diabetes. Therefore, nobody is ever either
completely mentally well or unwell; everyone experiences both in a lifetime.

You get better all at once

Recovery from depression or anxiety takes time. Everyone’s journey is di erent; how quickly and
consistently you start to improve depends on a host of factors, including how severely unwell you
were to start with. Be patient with yourself, and don’t give up if you have a setback. Setbacks are a
normal part of recovery, and you often can learn from them.

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Pacing yourself — being realistic about goals — is important. A good CBT therapist helps motivate
you and rein you in if you’re expecting too much of yourself. Even after you’re beginning to see the
light ickering at the end of the proverbial tunnel, remember that you’re convalescing. Keep
treating yourself compassionately and be aware of your limitations until you’re well and truly back
on your feet.

The drugs don’t work; they just make you worse

Many people recover from common mental health problems without needing psychiatric
medication. Some need medication for only a short period of time, perhaps to aid sleep, alleviate
anxiety symptoms or readjust depleted levels of serotonin via an antidepressant. Most of the
psychiatric medications prescribed by your doctor have relatively minor side e ects and aren’t
dependency forming or addictive.

Doctors should be mindful of limiting the number of prescriptions given, do standard

medication reviews and inform you of any potential side e ects so you know what to expect.
Your doctor should also consult you about stopping medications and give you a gradual
reduction regime to curtail any possible withdrawal e ects. The large majority of individuals
we treat have no major di culties going on or coming o medication.

A lot of scaremongering goes on out there about everyday psychiatric medications, and it
isn’t doing su erers much service. If you go online to research a drug, stick to very reputable
websites and avoid opinion-based anecdotal forums. Research into the e cacy and safety of

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drugs can be confusing and misleadingly represented in the media, so be sceptical about
what you hear.

For many people, the drugs do work; for others, medication isn’t something they can a ord to do
without. Conditions like bipolar, forms of psychosis and severe OCD or BDD require carefully
considered medications or combinations of medications to be successfully managed. Speak to a
registered psychologist or psychiatrist if you’re in need of a professional opinion.

Certain types of psychological disorders are glamorous

Here’s one of the contradictions we talked about earlier in the chapter. On the one hand, people
tend to view psychological illness as shameful, whilst on the other they romanticise some forms of
disturbance. Have you ever heard someone describe herself as ‘a little OCD’ because she likes a
tidy house or is very organized? Or perhaps you know of someone who describes herself as having
a ‘phobia’ of something that she really just dislikes.

To trivialize or romanticise any type of mental health problem this way is to minimise the profound
su ering these disorders can cause. Of course, people use psychological terms in a colloquial
sense and mean no harm by it. But for someone with true OCD that impacts her ability to work and
maintain relationships, a ippant comment can be hard to swallow. Then you have the articles in
the news about online sites that seem to promote or glamourise self-harm and eating disorders.

A lot of serious misrepresentations and misunderstandings of mental health problems

amongst individuals are oating around online, in lm, on TV and even amongst well-meaning
health workers who may lack speci c psychiatric training. Mental illness is no laughing matter,
nor is it stylish to deliberately adopt or mimic selected symptoms. Some social media sites
are making attempts to limit pro les that promote self-harm or eating disorders, but it’s still a
work in progress.

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Mental illness is unpreventable; it’s just bad luck

You can do a lot to keep your mind t and well. Just as you watch your diet and exercise regularly
to keep your body performing well, you can do a lot to keep your mind healthy. Happily, a lot of
what you do to keep physically healthy also helps to keep you on an even psychological keel. Good
food, a balanced lifestyle of work and play, plenty of rest and restorative sleep as well as ful lling
relationships all play important parts in your overall well-being.

Many of the tips and strategies in this book are useful not just to pull yourself out of a slump but
also to keep you running at optimal levels. You may not be able to prevent every physical or mental
illness through conscientious care of your mind/body ‘machine’; indeed, that would be impossible!
But you can take care to look after yourself during hard times, seek professional help at the rst
hint of relapse (if you’ve had psychological di culties in the past) and embrace the types of healthy
mental attitudes peppered throughout this book.

Everyone can tell when a person has a mental illness

Actually, it’s almost impossible to tell just by looking whether a person is depressed or anxious, has
OCD or PTSD or su ers panic attacks. Even psychosis isn’t immediately obvious and requires
professional assessment. When people experience panic attacks in public, others often come to
their aid thinking a physical explanation is to blame. Your best friend may not have a clue about
how depressed you’re feeling. That’s why asking people in your life for support rather than hiding
away because you feel vulnerable and exposed is important.

Sharing your emotional and psychological problems for the rst time can be di cult, but if
you don’t, others who care about you may never guess. Your doctor may give you some
measures to ll out that can help identify anxiety and low mood. But even a doctor needs
you to give her basic information about how you’re feeling. Don’t wait for help to come; wave
a metaphorical distress ag that others can’t miss.

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Having a mental illness means you’re dangerous

Only very few individuals with far more severe and complex psychological disorders than those
discussed in this book are ever a danger to others. Films hugely misrepresent mental disorders
because it makes for good viewing; accuracy isn’t often the lmmakers’ main concern. You don’t go
from having intrusive OCD thoughts or images to becoming a serial killer. Nor will your anxiety
mount and mount until your mind eventually ‘breaks’ and you’re no longer in control of your
actions or are left a quivering wreck forever.

The common psychological disorders in this book don’t change your value system or alter your
moral compass. You’re not a risk to others just because you’re feeling bad. Yes, people sometimes
engage in self-harm, misjudge risks or have thoughts of suicide when experiencing poor mental
health. It’s important to tell someone close to you, your therapist, doctor and any other
professional involved in your care if you’re self-harming or feel the urge to do so.

If you’re having thoughts of ending your life, seek support immediately, especially if you’ve
developed a plan.

We always advise behaving with an abundance of caution where any risk is concerned. That said,
having dark thoughts about the point of life and the future is very common when depressed or
battling with another type of disorder. People often have unpleasant thoughts and images about
ending their lives that they worry they may impulsively act upon. Having thoughts about dying or
death doesn’t mean you’re intent on suicide. However, it does mean that you’re feeling really awful.

Seeking help will go on my medical record and hurt my future

prospects
If you get a formal diagnosis, it does go on your medical record, as does any medication you’re
prescribed. You’ll be in good company, however, with the many thousands of others with some
mental health issue on their records. Records are there to make sure you get the best treatment
possible if you change doctors or have to go into hospital. Their intended purpose is to be helpful,

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not to be used as ammunition against you in the future. Most employers never see your full
medical records. Also, the days of discrimination based on a history of psychological problems are
over. Unfair treatment because of mental illness, past or present, is illegal. Know your rights; many
charitable organizations o er legal advice, and some lawyers specialise in mental health cases.

About the Book Author

Rhena Branch is an accredited CBT practitioner, supervisor and trainer who has trained hundreds
of counselors. She is currently a lecturer at the University of East Anglia. Rob Willson, PhD, is a
cognitive behavioural therapist with over 25 years experience. He teaches and supervises
internationally on CBT for OCD and Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD).

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