#RemiTalks Season 1 Episode 2 – To ADMIT vuLnerabILITY or not
Hey guys and welcome back!
Today’s topic is going to be about something that’s important specifically in our society, but not necessarily spoken about often.
Mental health is a topic that isn’t openly spoken about amongst young adults, talking about it is one of the hardest things to date, specifically in our generation. It isn’t something that would casually brought up or introduced in a conversation. More than 60% of people with mental health issues won’t seek help due to the stigma around it.
A lot of people who suffer from mental illness(s) always say the first conversation is the hardest but majority say sharing their story makes things easier.
Common definition of ”mental health” curtesy of Google is ”a persons condition in regard to their psychological and emotional well-being, so a ”mental health illness” would be something that threatens this.
It can range from mood, personality, psychotic ,eating or trauma related disorder. Today’s blog is focusing directly on the topic of Depression(a mood disorder). However topics of other mental health issues(e.g. anxiety) are going to be further discussed in future blogs. (#RemiTalks)
I hold my hands up, i’m not a mental health specialist, the little I know about this topic is from Psychology lessons. I had to do my research before even attempting to approach the subject. It’s such a touchy subject and can easily be taken to offence. So BIG disclaimer, I hope I don’t offend anyone with anything said in this piece – that’s not my aim at all.
We spend so much time in our heads, sometimes our thoughts aren’t always the best or a 100% positive, our mental health relies on what happens in our head. The way we think can be affected by our mental health, it can affect our daily life, relationships, friendships, our physical health but most of all, it affects us emotionally.
‘Depression’ can be characterised by a low mood, loss of interest in things we do on a normal day and reduced energy. It’s not just ‘feeling sad’ ,its your thoughts, your behaviour. It can be so minor, but can also be so severe.
According to Psychiatric guidelines ,someone with 5 or more of the following symptoms qualifies for a diagnosis.
- Low mood
- Loss of appetite
- Loss of interest in common hobbies
- Sleeping too much or not at all (insomnia)
- Common restlessness
- Poor concentration
- Recurrent thoughts of suicide
Sometimes, it results from an event or series of events but sometimes its not a result of anything. It can be factors in our life – e.g. univerisity, home life, friendships, relationships.
Although some of us are reluctant to admit it, we all have our down days. We have days where we’re in a mood we can’t really explain to someone or we don’t really want to get out bed or we choose to be for lazy for the day. This doesn’t automatically mean we’re depressed.
Depression is a mental issue, meaning it’s harder to understand like any other illness (with the exception of all other mood disorders). Its personal- from that persons own perspective, not one persons experience is going to be the same. Are you following me?
There’s a big difference between having depression – e.g. being diagnosed clinically, and feeling depressed. Everyone feels down from time to time, for example getting into an argument with a loved one or a close friend, being unemployed or getting a bad grade. However, when these circumstances changes , the feeling of sadness goes away.
Still following?
Being diagnosed as ‘clinically depressed’ is completely different to this , its recognised as a medical condition and it won’t go away just because you want it to. It can interfere with someone ability to work, play or even have normal relationships.
Depression isn’t just having a ‘bad day’, depression lies to you and tells you, you’re not ”good enough”. Depression lies to you and makes you believe life is worthless. Depression lies to you and takes away your joy, whilst stealing your time.
No matter how old you are, whether male or female ,rich or poor, whatever ethnic group or race you belong to – anyone has potential to develop mental health problems. No one specific race is more vulnerable to mental problems than another. Statistics show 1 in 5 people experience mental health problems each year.
Visualise 1 in 5 in your head. That could easily mean someone you know – your friend, a friend of a friend, even a member of your family or someone who’s not really your friend but you associate yourself with.
1 in 6 women experience depression at some point in their life.
1 in 8 men experience depression at some point in their life.
It’s so important to talk about something that could easily affect someone’s ability to enjoy life or balance everyday activities. Please remember most symptoms explained previously are intangible. This means its hard to know who is suffering, people look fine but inside can be having a conflict with their emotions, can be at war with themselves and battling personal struggles.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, it takes the average person who suffers from the illness 10 years to reach out and ask for help. 10 years. A whole lot of events can happen in 10 years. Trust and believe not a lot of people survive the whole 10 years.
If you feel like someone isn’t at 100, reach out. Gently, don’t hassle. But make sure that person knows you’re there, reassurance can change a lot. One mistake people make when reaching out or even in normal conversation is comparing times when they’ve felt down to what the person is currently feeling. Comparing what they’re feeling to normal temporary feelings of sadness can make someone feel guilty for what they’re currently feeling – avoid this.
Check on your friends, that strong friend that doesn’t share that much and shows that all is well? check on them. Honestly speaking? Depression is something so easy to mask with a smile and a laugh. Sometimes all it takes is one person to ask the question ‘Are you good? Like forreal’ . If not , just spend time with them, offer to go out for a coffee , go somewhere, do something.
I believe so strongly that mental health needs so much more awareness that it gets. I’m not just talking about a retweet and a like or even a share button. I mean actively. Like more people feeling comfortable speaking out about past experiences ,sharing their stories and how they overcame it. The setting up of more organisations to bring awareness and treatments forward.
Openly talking about mental illness helps erode the current stigma and makes it so much easier for people to seek help. Suicide rates go down, less families suffer losses, less friends having to attend funerals. The more people seeking help, like REAL help or treatments makes doctors, scientists , family members and friends aware of what to do.
Hope is real. Help is real, and every story is important. Never ever feel like your emotions aren’t important.
Here are a list of support helplines and websites anyone can use:
1 Text ”shout” to 85258 , this organisation helps with urgent issues to do with suicidal thoughts, self harm or abuse.
2. Mental Health Foundation – www.mentalhealth.org.uk
3. MIND – call 0300 123 3393 (Monday – Friday 9am-6pm) offers support for all types of mental issues.
4.SANE- call 0300 304 700 (Monday – Friday 4:30pm- 10:30pm) website: www.sane.org.uk/support -offers emotional supports for young adults suffering with any problems.
5. and of course my email is always open for anyone willing to talk about anything and everything, any struggles, questions or a quick chinwag! -confessionjournal@outlook.com. Or use the contact button in the Menu section!
Thank you so much for reading! Catch you next time.
Love Remi xx
The confession journal 