In recent years, we have seen famous people open up about their struggles with mental illness. It lifted the veil about depression and other like issues. Their openness comes at a crucial time as so many people fight to remain sane while fighting a pandemic and cope with its emotional toll.
Being sad is one thing. But depression is an entirely different species altogether. In the past, people used to dismiss such an ailment. The question is how one can differentiate sadness from outright desolation.
Basic knowledge of the different mental illnesses can help you recognize the symptoms. This awareness can help save a life. It might be your own.
Depression
We heard Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson talk about his battle with depression. He gives hope as he reveals that there are others out there who suffer the same thing. But how can we tell if we have depression?
The death of a loved one can trigger depression. Those who suffer severe depression feel extreme self-loathing that can lead to suicidal tendencies. In this case, the patient often thinks about uniting with the deceased soon.
Physical assault can also lead to depression. Lady Gaga recounted her extraordinary journey of surviving the trauma of a violent attack and suffering PTSD because of the assault. She even pointed out that she felt tired right after waking up, which is one of the symptoms of depression.
New mothers can also suffer from depression. The biochemical changes in the mother’s body trigger this. As Gwyneth Paltrow explains, postpartum depression is not just crying all the time. It can manifest in the inability to connect with one’s baby.
Anorexia
This eating disorder sadly afflicts a lot of teenagers. They have an immense fear of gaining weight. If the patient does not gain professional help, it can lead to death.
Kesha shared her experience with anorexia. She was a fountain of hope as she admitted that she went into rehab to get help for her eating disorder. She pointed out that she had to work on her issues with self-worth.
All eating disorders are not about food. It usually stems out from low self-esteem. Unlike going on a diet, a person who suffers from anorexia takes severe actions to prevent weight gain. They usually vomit right after eating or abuse laxatives, diuretics, or enemas.
Those who have anorexia develop any or some of the following physical conditions:
- Yellow and dry skin
- Growth of fine hair all over the body
- Irregular (or complete loss of) menstrual cycle
- Constipation
- Lethargy
- Dental erosion
- Continuous abdominal pain
- Inability to regulate body temperature
Those who have anorexia nervosa have some anorexia treatment options. But the patients are not the only ones who will undergo the treatment. Their loved ones need professional support too. They need to know how to emotionally support the patient.
Dyslexia
In the early part of the 21st century, we learned that Sweden’s Crown Princess was bullied mercilessly as a child. The Heiress to the Swedish throne endured a traumatic childhood because she had dyslexia.
Teachers usually are the ones who recognize this problem. But you might want to keep a closer eye on your young ones if they develop any of the following signs before they reach school age:
- They have a hard time learning new words.
- They are behind in their speech.
- They might reverse the sounds of words.
- They interchange words that sound alike.
- They find it hard to learn nursery rhymes.
This learning disability is genetic. If it manifested in your parents, you would likely have it too. The part of the brain that is responsible for language is not working properly. Although there is no known cure, being diagnosed with dyslexia is not a death sentence.
Princess Victoria and her siblings coped with the disability. Albeit with some difficulty, the Swedish royalties are able to deliver public speeches. They acknowledge that they underwent therapy to overcome their problem.
You do not need to panic if your child who is in preschool or in grade 1 has a hard time reading. At this age, they are still trying to learn the basics of reading. But if you have noticed that your kid’s learning ability is below what is expected, you must reach out to your pediatrician for correct diagnostic tests.
Mental illness was a taboo in the past. We were supposed to suck it up and go on with our lives. But these ailments can no longer be swept under the rug because they have dire consequences. We have to fight them head-on.
If you see yourself suffering from any of the disabilities enumerated, you have to seek professional help. Doing this might make the difference between life and death.
