No two mental illnesses are the identical or must be treated as such, but all are life-altering. When sick with a chilly or flu, physical symptoms occur: sniffles, headaches, sore stomachs, a flushed face, a red nose, sallow skin, and so forth. Even with more severe illnesses like cancer, dementia, and Alzheimer’s, the signs could also be subtler, but after they’re at their most destructive, again, it’s almost unmissable. Physical sickness is difficult to cover from the skin world.
It may be much harder to identify mental illness. The symptoms may be sneaky and different from one person to the following. And the one who has a mental illness doesn’t all the time realize they’re suffering or may not want anyone to know. According to the WHO, mental health is “a state of well-being wherein the person realizes his or her own abilities, can deal with the traditional stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and may contribute to his or her community.” Good mental health allows a healthy growth mindset. We can think clearly, deal with stress, and be ok with ourselves.
Poor mental health may be generalized doubts and insecurities or severe mental illness. Mental illness encompasses anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, personality disorder, eating disorders, schizophrenia, addiction – the list could be very long.
Mental health is just as crucial as physical health. Though it’s a rather more invisible struggle, it must be taken just as seriously. This is why May is Mental Health Awareness Month: in order that more people can understand this issue that’s sweeping our world at an alarming rate. There are ways in which we, as Christians, can address mental health in a Christlike manner and lift our awareness of it.
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