Mind matters:
World Mental Health Day - October 10
We can measure our physical health in many ways. Like checking our weight, BMI, blood sugar, cholesterol, etc. By seeing those numbers we can check our health status multiple times a year. That is a good thing right!!!
Health is very important to us. Mental health matters as much as physical health. Mental illness is not a personal failure.
Mental health is an integral and essential component of our health. The WHO constitution states: "Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity." An important implication of this definition is that mental health is more than just the absence of mental disorders or disabilities.
Mental health and stability is a very important factor in a person's everyday life. Not many of us think about it. Our society has stereotypes and stigma about it. Most of us don’t talk about mental health because of the lack of awareness or the fear that people might judge us.
Types of disorders:
There are many different types of mental disorders.
Anxiety disorder, Panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and phobias.
Depression, bipolar disorder, and other mood disorders.
Personality disorders
Post - Traumatic stress disorder.
Eating disorders.
Psychotic disorders, including schizophrenia.
Almost all of us have started getting anxious and depressed during this pandemic situation. Everyday news and social media feeds are not helping rather they aggravate the condition. Staying indoors for a long time with a poor diet and lack of physical activity, makes people depressed. Most don’t even realize this because unlike physical health there is no easy way to measure mental health.
Moving on to another important thing in most women’s lives, pregnancy. Pregnancy is such a beautiful thing for women. Nurturing and growing a life inside her is a special feeling. Every pregnancy is unique. Everyone feels different throughout their pregnancies. As soon a pregnancy starts, there are lots of changes within her body, so many hormonal changes. Her body changes every trimester. She may go through mood swings because of these changes.
8 out of 10 women don’t even know that postpartum depression exists.
It is very common for women to go through this after pregnancy. She needs to check with her doctor and about her mental state. Some may even get suicidal thoughts during the postpartum period. Women are not ready to come forward to talk about these problems. It’s okay to talk about this and seek help.
10 symptoms of depression
Feelings of helplessness and hopelessness. A bleak outlook—nothing will ever get better and there’s nothing you can do to improve your situation.
Loss of interest in daily activities. You don’t care anymore about former hobbies, pastimes, social activities, or sex. You’ve lost your ability to feel joy and pleasure.
Appetite or weight changes. Significant weight loss or weight gain—a change of more than 5% of body weight in a month.
Sleep changes. Either insomnia, especially waking in the early hours of the morning, or oversleeping.
Anger or irritability. Feeling agitated, restless, or even violent. Your tolerance level is low, your temper short, and everything and everyone gets on your nerves.
Loss of energy. Feeling fatigued, sluggish, and physically drained. Your whole body may feel heavy, and even small tasks are exhausting or take longer to complete.
Self-loathing. Strong feelings of worthlessness or guilt. You harshly criticize yourself for perceived faults and mistakes.
Reckless behavior. You engage in escapist behavior such as substance abuse, compulsive gambling, reckless driving, or dangerous sports.
Concentration problems. Trouble focusing, making decisions or remembering things.
Unexplained aches and pains. An increase in physical complaints such as headaches, back pain, aching muscles, and stomach pain.
My request to everyone is to please talk openly whenever you are down with your loved ones. Get help immediately whenever you feel hopeless in life. Don’t be ashamed to talk about how you feel and your mental state. Let’s all have a healthy body and mind!
I am going to write more about this topic in my future blog.
