In any one year, 54 million Americans are dealing with the symptoms of a mental disorder. While some seem to believe that mental illness isn’t common and more of a hidden ailment, it’s far more widespread than you’d imagine.
At some point or another, we might choose to focus in on our mental health. Whether that means going to see a therapist and/or psychiatrist on a regular basis, taking medication as prescribed, committing to a consistent regimen of exercise and maintaining a healthy diet, attending group therapy or participating in alternative therapies like art or light therapy.
What is a Mental Illness?
A mental illness can refer to the incapability to function normally in every day life while struggling with the symptoms of the illness.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, which means it’s time to focus on one of the elements of health we so often set aside—how are we doing, mentally? The signs of mental illness are not always clear, so it’s important to take a self-evaluation every once in a while to really hone in on how we’re actually doing.
If you have any of the following symptoms, it maybe time to consider taking extra steps to take care of yourself mentally, or reach out to someone trustworthy to help you:
-sadness or irritability
-social withdrawal
-delusional thinking
-extreme anger
-excessive worry or anxiety
-changes in eating or sleeping habits
-hallucinations
-suicidal thoughts
-substance use disorder
How Does Mental Illness Relate to Substance Use Disorder?
50 percent of all patients with a diagnosed mental illness also have a substance use disorder problem, to some degree or another—the odds are quite high. Not to mention that psychiatric medication works most effectively when taken without alcohol. It’s important to take into consideration your substance use disorder. If you are drinking because you are depressed, or drinking because you’re feeling reckless, it might be time to talk to someone about your habits.
It’s not easy to address mental illness, because there is such a stigma attached. However, if you’re struggling with both a mental illness and substance use disorder disorder, you are far from alone.
