Mental Illness Need Not be Fatal: Reach Out for Help - by Sommer Quezada

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Sommer Quizada at Pima Community College

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Throughout my life, I have struggled with mental illness. Since I was a young, I have struggled with anxiety and depression and sought help with therapy on and off. I have tried taking and not taking medicine for my mental health. In my earliest recollections, I remember worrying that there was something fundamentally flawed with me. My heart would pound, and I would feel like I was suffocating during these panic episodes brought on by my worry. During my depressive episodes, I felt utterly helpless and hopeless. I was confused about what was happening to me and lacked coping mechanisms. My coping mechanisms included self-injury and substance abuse. Mental illness is a topic that is often stigmatized and misunderstood. Mental illness is quite common, affecting millions of people worldwide. There are many types of mental disorders, ranging from anxiety and depression to more severe conditions like schizophrenia. Regardless of the type of mental illness, there are ways to get help and treatment. In this essay, I will be discussing mental illness in general, common mental disorders, and different ways to get help for those who struggle with mental illness. I hope to understand mental illness better and dispel myths and misconceptions surrounding this topic.

Mental illness is a general term that is used to describe a variety of mental disorders. These disorders are medical conditions characterized by changes in thinking, emotion, or behavior (Stein et al., 2019). They may disturb a person and make it difficult for them to go about their regular lives. There are many different types of mental disorders, and they can range in severity from mild to severe. Mental illnesses are common and often occur along with other physical health conditions.

Anxiety, sadness, and post-traumatic stress disorder are all examples of widely-spread mental health issues (PTSD). Anxiety disorders are the most frequent kind of mental illness, affecting 40 million adults (18.1% of the population) in the United States (Davis et al., 2017). Anxiety disorders are characterized by persistent and excessive levels of anxiety, concern, and tension in affected individuals. Physical manifestations, including a beating heart or profuse sweating, may also be present. A further widely-spread mental illness, depression, affects 16.1 million American adults (6.7% of the total population) today (Stanley, 2019). Depression can cause many symptoms, including sadness, loss of interest or pleasure in activities, anger, and difficulty concentrating. People with depression may also have physical symptoms such as fatigue or sleep problems. PTSD is a less common but significant mental disorder affecting 7.7 million adults in the United States (Stanley, 2019). PTSD can develop after a person experiences or witnesses a traumatic event, such as a natural disaster, a car accident, or a violent crime

There are many different ways to get help for mental illness. If one struggles with a mental disorder, it is essential to seek professional help. Many mental health professionals, such as psychiatrists, psychologists, and therapists, can provide treatment through medication and support therapy. In addition, there are also many hotlines and resources available, as well as many online resources and support groups available (Lipson et al., 2018). I was fortunate enough to receive treatment for my mental disorder. I started working with a therapist and taking some pills. I have found success in treating my mental condition with this approach. I have become an advocate for mental health and offer support to those who are also experiencing mental health issues. Mental illness is not fatal; I am proof of that. People with mental illness can recover and lead fulfilling lives if given the proper care.

In conclusion, if you or someone you know is struggling with mental illness, please reach out for help. There are many resources available to those in need.

If you need to reach out:

988 suicide hotline
Substance abuse national hotline:
1-800-662-4357

References

Davis, M. A., Lin, L. A., Liu, H., & Sites, B. D. (2017). Prescription opioid use among adults with mental health disorders in the United States. The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine, 30(4), 407–417.

Lipson, S. K., Kern, A., Eisenberg, D., & Breland-Noble, A. M. (2018). Mental health disparities among college students of color. Journal of Adolescent Health, 63(3), 348-356.

Stanley, A. H. (2019). Various Journaling Behaviors Related to Self-Reported Mental Health Rating. Initial Forays into Psychological Science, p. 9.

Stein, D. J., Szatmari, P., Gaebel, W., Berk, M., Vieta, E., Maj, M., ... & Reed, G. M. (2020). Mental, behavioural and neurodevelopmental disorders in the ICD-11: an international perspective on critical changes and controversies. BMC medicine, 18(1), 1-24.