Mental Illness
COVID-19 has done wonders for society, and I don't mean in a good way. Millions have died, and more are being infected as you read this. However, the pandemic has done more than affect our physical health. It's made us go insane.
Now, I know what you're thinking. That's a joke, isn't it? It's just an excuse for acting up during quarantine. However, a study done at the Journal for Clinical and Diagnostic Research shows that excessive loneliness can cause mental illness, and in some cases, instability. This is why it's important that we take precautions for our physical health as well as our mental well-being.
What Are Some Types of Mental Illness?
Let's get one thing straight: we are all human. And before we evolved into the society we are today, we had a simpler society in which we relied on each other to stay alive and well. If a person were to go out for a hunt, they would take a few others with them in case of a predator attack or another group wishing to hunt the same animal. In order for everyone to stay alive, each person would perform a different task in the case of an emergency. One person would keep up the defenses to keep the enemy or rabid animal from entering homeland premises. Another would run to get help, in these cases, either backup or weapons and/or traps. Yet another person could be planning a strategy in case a worst possible scenario came up. It's the natural way.
Taking this into consideration, it's hard to be alone. Believe me, I know. I spent months thinking about how I couldn't trust anyone, blah, blah, blah, and finally learned to open up. But personal stories aside, we all need to learn how to do that. Always have at least two good, close people that you know you can trust. If anything happens, talk to them.
Now, back to the topic we were discussing. Loneliness can cause a wide variety of illness across a wide variety of seriousness, ranging from clinical depression to personality disorders. Not seeing fellow humans can really cause people to become socially distanced from society, which can cause permanent detachment and thus, lead to your brain trying to adjust to these permanent mental changes. Your adjusting brain, however, didn't see enough of society at this point to adjust correctly, so these changes that your brain makes to your personality and thought process is what we call mental "illness".
Loneliness is the easiest type of mental illness to explain. If a person is blocked away from society for an extended period of time, their brain adjusts to this new lifestyle by embedding the idea of distancing themselves from society. This change could affect the person permanently. Loneliness, if left untreated, could lead to even more serious issues like Bipolar Disorder or Multiple Personality Disorder.
Depression is a word that people throw around far too easily. It is the medical term for a disorder that can interfere with your ability to do daily activities. For example, a person who has depression could sleep and eat less or more than usual, distance themselves from family and/or friends (family, in our case. We can't even see our friends!), and lose interest in tasks that they would normally enjoy doing. In severe cases, a depressed person could have suicidal thoughts and/or think about harming themselves. Unfortunately, many people die of depression every year; either by committing suicide or when their body stops functioning properly, due to them not eating or sleeping right.
Anger Issues is a mental illness in which the affected person becomes angry due to family, emotional, or financial issues. Some symptoms include dizziness, fatigue, and outbursts of anger. It can be tied into depression and many anxiety disorders. While anger issues is different from depression, many symptoms are the same or similar.
Remember that mental illnesses cannot be self-diagnosed and require a medical diagnosis. However, if you or someone you know is experiencing a handful or many or all of these symptoms, it may be okay to take an online test for a mental illness. If you're score is high, it may be time to speak to your doctor, so he/she could make sure that your illness isn't the side effect from a physical condition, and so that they could recommend the best type of treatment. Remember that no one is too young or too old for getting a mental illness. Many people think that these illnesses are because of "real problems" or family issues that you may or may not experience when you get older. However, symptoms could begin during childhood, and it is never too late to talk to someone you trust.
How Can I Prevent Mental Illness In Myself Or In Others?
Although most types of mental illness aren't totally curable, there are many efficient ways to prevent them.
1. Do things that make you happy. Distracting yourself from negativity can help you to focus on the good things.
2. Spend time with loved ones. People that you know and trust can talk to you in a way that you can feel happy without being insulted.
3. Remember what is good for you. Doing things that are harmful or unhealthy such as alcoholism or addiction is a major cause for mental illness. Stay away from these things to keep your mentality in good shape.
4. Don't let people abuse you or insult you, or someone you love. Letting people be harsh with you can cause trauma, even when you don't want it to or when you don't take it too seriously.
5. Never ignore comments about self-harm or suicide. When people tell you about self-harming, they are not looking for attention. They are showing you that they trust you. Don't break that trust by telling everyone you know. Tell one or two trusted adults that this person is thinking about these harmful activities. Don't promise this person that you won't tell anyone. If you think they need help, they probably do.
Hopefully this section informed you about how we need to take care of ourselves physically and mentally during this critical time. Stay safe, everyone, and have a great rest of your day!
