The Truth About Mental Illness

One in Five Americans Suffer; Dissecting the Stigma Behind Mental Health Issues

With the recent death of country music icon, Naomi Judd, and her years-long battle with mental illness, the topic of both mental health issues and suicide are at the forefront. For decades there has been a stigma about mental illness, largely due to the combination of lack of knowledge, and the outward expressions of those who suffer from its painful grip.

Often those who witness expressive outbursts, isolation, and other emotional or mental variances, find it difficult to understand and feel ill-equipped to help, despite their best intentions.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), near one in five U.S. adults live with mental illness. That's 52.9 million Americans, and the most prevalence of any mental health illness was in young adults, aged 18-25, with a higher percentage of females suffering from such issues.

But, what exactly is mental illness, and what causes it?

Mental illness is defined as a "mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder," and can vary in impact, ranging from mild impairment to more moderate or extreme. In extreme cases, mental illness substantially impairs one's ability to carry out simple common daily tasks.

Symptoms include depression, social withdrawal, confusion, anger, excitement, fear, profound grief, confusion, extreme emotions (mood swings), loss or increased appetite, extensive sleeping or insomnia, and others.

Common types of mental illness include:

• Anxiety Disorders: Panic; fear; sleeping issues (insomnia); inability to sit still, remain calm, or relaxed for short periods of time (restlessness); shortness of breath; heart palpitations; feelings of apprehension or dread; persistent weakness or feeling tired; trouble concentrating or focusing. Although the causes of anxiety are not fully understood, they are consistent with life experiences - namely traumatic events that one has experienced or stress due to current illness, financial, or relational stress. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) can often share the same symptoms of anxiety and result in compulsive or ritualistic behavior as a coping mechanism - in other words, "staying busy" to avoid intrusive thoughts.

• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Although PTSD can trigger anxiety or panic attacks, it is distinctly different in the fact that it is a mental health condition that produces intrusive and terrifying thoughts, recurring memories of traumatic life events (flashbacks), and/or nightmares that interfere with daily functioning. PTSD is often a silent and slowly progressive disorder, whereas some may start to experience post-traumatic stress immediately after the event, but often symptoms may not appear until years later. Caused by traumatic experiences that involve experiencing serious (often life-altering) injury, witnessing deadly or near-death situations, sexual or abusive violations, PTSD is complex, but treatable.\

• Schizophrenia: This mental disorder includes delusional behavior, hallucinations, disorganized thoughts or speech patterns, lack of emotional expression, phobias, lack of motivation or interest in activities, agitation, or inappropriate reactions, and is often caused by brain chemistry, hereditary, or brain injury.

• Bipolar Disorder: Often characterized by extreme moodiness (mood swings) and episodes of extreme excitement one minute or depressive feelings the next, this disorder is commonly referred to as the "Jeckyl & Hyde" syndrome - meaning a person can be happy one minute and equally as unhappy or angry the next. Such behavior tends to put people on edge because they never quite know how someone with bipolar disorder will react from one moment to another. Other symptoms include restlessness, agitation, poor concentration or judgement, extreme sadness or crying, loss of energy, loss of interest in everyday activities, loss of or need for more sleep, changes of appetite, extreme weight loss or gain, suicidal thoughts, paranoia, and more. Bipolar Disorder and Schizophrenia are common partners, and often go hand-in-hand. Causes of bipolar disorder can be genetic, stress, abnormal brain function, or the result of drug/alcohol abuse.

• Autism and Asperger's Syndrome: While not all mental health issues are based on traumatic events, some, like autism and Asperger's are neurodevelopment disabilities - meaning they are typically caused by genetic mutations or changes that could be inherited. Sometimes other issues can cause either of these disorders, including environmental factors, complications during pregnancy, or medications. Both cause a wide range of impairments in social communication, public interaction, and daily function.

Other Disorders include Major Depressive Disorder and Dissociative Identity Disorder (multiple personalities).

Dementia: Most think that dementia is a mental health illness, often because patients display many of the same or comparable symptoms to mental illness when suffering from dementia. However, dementia is not considered a mental health illness, because it is not a psychological issue, but rather a neurological issue. For instance, psychological disorders focus more on emotions and personalities, and can often be treated. Neurological disorders are physical impairments such a brain trauma, injury, or cognitive abnormalities, and most neurological disorders cannot be treated and are typically terminal.

Dementia, often caused by Alzheimer's or Parkinson's Disease, is considered a neurological disorder, even though the patient can display or show signs of mental illness as a result of cognitive and behavioral decline, which is often why people think it is a mental health issue.

Aside from the psychological and neurological aspects of mental illness, the area that often goes unnoticed is the spiritual implications of such health issues.

While there are certainly physical, emotional, and mental aspects, the bottom line is all illness and disease, even self-inflicted (through drug/alcohol abuse, self-harm, or suicide) are a by-product or result of sin. Now, before you get your panties in a twist, thinking I'm blaming mental health issues on the individual, here me out.

While some illnesses and diseases are caused by individual choice, many (if not most) are created by environmental, digestible, and spiritual factors. In other words, we most often have no idea what chemicals we are ingesting in our air, water, and food. We have little control over those factors. We cannot control or stop aging - despite so many attempting to drink from a mythological fountain of youth - everyone is aging and everyone is getting older by the millisecond. These are all factors we cannot be personally responsible for nor control.

The spiritual factor, however, was caused by one act, by two people, as far back the Garden of Eden, when Adam and Eve, disobeyed God and ate the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. By rebelling against the Creator, their eyes were opened to the reality of evil's existence. They had already experienced Utopia - a place of purity, beauty, peace, health, and all that was good. But through their curiosity and rebellion, they opened the door to all that was not good, as well.

As a result, aging and death became a reality. Sickness, disease, and all forms of illness made themselves known. And mental illness was part of the package.

You see, God had no intention of us being unhealthy in any fashion - physically, mentally, financially, or spiritually. We were not designed to see death, experience trauma and pain, aging and deterioration, turmoil and torment. It was never His intention for us to suffer. Sin caused our plight, and although we can't pass off our personal liability and responsibility in our illnesses, sin is what introduced us to such evil.

What then can we do? How can we treat mental illness?

First and foremost, we need to eliminate the stigma surrounding #mentalillness and #mentalhealth issues. In all honesty, everyone is afflicted with some form of mental illness (albeit most is mild). Don't deny it! Do you ever feel lonely, depressed, frustrated with life, sad, emotionally drained, anxious, fearful, restless, exhausted for unknown reasons? It could be because of poor physical health, poor diet and exercise, or other factors, but, I assure you, some of it is mental and all of it is spiritual!

Second, we need to understand that mental illness doesn't mean someone is "crazy" or "psychotic." Sure, there are those who are - namely serial killers, terrorists, and dictators - and maybe an ex-spouse or two (just kidding... maybe), but for the most part, mental health issues are no different than getting a cavity filled or your eyes tested. It's all a part of our overall health, and should be treated as such.

This leads me to the third point - it's okay to go to counseling and seek help from a therapist, pastor, or professional who is trained in mental health treatment. I am not a big fan of chemical solutions - a/k/a prescriptions - to treat mental health disorders. And I have learned that often when a therapist or counselor can't find a coping solution, they quickly resort to anti-depressants and other drugs that often don't treat the cause, but just the symptom, and can often be more harmful than good. (No, this is not my amateur opinion, but rather from the advice of licensed doctors and therapists whom I have interviewed or discussed such topics).

Although I know in extreme cases, medications may be the only option, I am an advocate for alternative treatments first. And those include:

Prayer - Go to the Great Physician and Creator of us. After all, He created us, He can lead us to the right solution. Like finding a good mechanic for our vehicle, God will direct your path toward good mental health, whether it is to a great counselor/therapist, or He miraculously heals you, Himself, I know the power of prayer works, and should be not just your starting point, but your constant go-to resource for all things - including mental health.

Diet/Exercise - Often mental health issues are ignited by or disguised by the condition of our physical or spiritual health. Diet and exercise can dramatically improve depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, PTSD symptoms, and more.

Counseling - Give yourself permission to go to a counselor. Most people who seek professional help from a counselor or therapist keep it well hidden. They sneak off to the therapist's office incognito, acting like they're doing something wrong. That's because they feel people will judge them as being weak or "crazy." The truth is counseling is no different than going to the dentist, medical doctor, chiropractor, nutritionist, or taking your dog to the veterinarian! If you finances are a mess, you seek financial advice from a professional, don't you?

Our mental health is equally, if not more important than our physical health. We sometimes just need a professional to help us process our thoughts and issues. This doesn't mean we are weak. Quite the contrary! It means we are strong and self-aware! We are listening to what our bodies (and minds) are saying to us, and seeking the necessary treatment to avoid further decline or decay. If more people sought counseling, there would be far less violence, marital issues, financial issues, suicide, addiction, and more.

Therapy is healing. And I strongly believe everyone should go to therapy, routinely, to get a mental wellness check, just like you go to the dentist or doctor for a wellness exam, teeth cleaning, etc. It will do you some good!

Chiropractic Care - Yes, sometimes our depression or mental health issues can be the result of persistent pain or physical injury, nerve damage, misalignment of our spinal column, etc., and I have found chiropractic care to be a tremendous blessing to relieving pain and adjusting my body so everything flows better (blood/circulation, digestion, neurological signals, etc.).

Relaxation/Sleep - While oversleeping or laziness can be a symptom of mental illness, most struggle with insomnia or restlessness, which can cause myriad health issues - physically and mentally. Sleep is God' auto-correct, reboot, refill, and charge station. Getting adequate rest/sleep will help with your overall vitality, reduces stress, improves mood, increases your immunity, reduces diabetes risk and low libido, improves heart condition, reduces inflammation, improves digestion and memory, and significantly reduces auto accidents. On average, school-aged children should get about 10 hours per day of sleep/rest; teens need 9-10 hours per day; and adults need an average of 7-8 hours per day. So, if you're not getting enough rest or sleep, your mental and physical health will take a hit! Don't take it too far and become complacent and lazy (meaning sleeping for more than 7-8 hours per day unless you are sick or sleep deprived and need to catch up), but make sure you are getting sufficient sleep.

Sleep is a gift God created to unplug from the world on a daily basis, and plug into our built-in recharging system He created! If you don't stay plugged in long enough, you won't have enough charge to get through life. And sleeping 7-8 hours per day is a gage to help you determine if there are other underlying health issues. Not sleeping enough or feeling like you can't get enough sleep are indicative of other issues you may want to have checked out.

In conclusion, understand that mental health issues are definitely more prevalent than one would imagine. Respect the fact, they are normal conditions of this fallen world, and everyone struggles mentally, at times, as a result. Most importantly, be kind to yourself, seek help when needed, and recognize signs that your may be struggling with mental health issues. Talk to friends and family, and if you don't feel you can or you don't have the support you need, seek professional help.

If you are struggling with severe issues or thoughts of suicide, please reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255 or text HELLO to 741741. They are available 24/7, 365 days a year.

Veterans who are struggling can reach out to the VA Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255 or text a message to 838255.

Don't suffer in silence. You are not alone. You are loved. You are worthy. You are wanted and needed.

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