The Hard Truths
To this day, mental health is surrounded by stigma, which can make it hard to tell the truth from the lies. To make matters easier, here are 20 myths you should stop believing.
1. Therapy is for Crazy People
Therapy often gets a bad reputation as something only “crazy” people do. The idea that it would go on your record or make you less desirable is completely false. In fact, plenty of healthy people continue to go to therapy as it’s just a great way to check in and unpack your emotions in the most healthy way.
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2. Only Adults Have Mental Health Issues
Another common myth is the idea that only adults can experience mental health problems. In reality, many children also face challenges and can be impacted by mood swings or learning issues.
3. Try Harder to be Happy
The idea that people who are feeling sad just need to try harder to be happy is false. There are many factors aside from your own mental fortitude that can impact you, such as stress from a job or the loss of a loved one.
4. Mental Health Issues are Uncommon
Lots of people wrongly believe that mental health issues are a rare thing. But the reality is that they’re simply not talked about as much, which can make them feel insignificant. In reality, tens of millions of Americans alone experience such issues.
5. Depressed People Are Lazy
Associating laziness with depression is just downright wrong and can be very hurtful to the person. While it may seem like they lack a work ethic or are just low-energy, the reality is that they’re struggling with the physical and chemical imbalances that come with such an issue.
6. Mental Illnesses Aren’t Real
Lots of people dismiss mental illnesses as fake since they can’t physically see them. But the reality is that there can be chemicals at play, or a person is going through something very tough and is experiencing real sadness.
7. Just Get Over It
Another myth is the idea that people can just get over their mental health issues, but this isn’t the reality at all. It isn’t as easy as buckling down and “getting over it.” Sometimes the physical and chemical consequences can be too much, and people require help.
8. Mental Illness Will Never Affect Me
Another myth is the idea that mental illness only affects certain people, and that others are immune. This isn’t the case at all, as any event in life can trigger a mental reaction. For instance, you may lose your job or a loved one.
9. Bad Parenting
Others believe that bad parenting is the reason a child or adult may experience mental illness. While genetics, biology, and one’s environment can contribute, there isn’t just one factor that’s responsible. However, family support is certainly needed to overcome these issues.
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10. People With Mental Illness Are Weak
This isn’t the case either, as people with mental illness aren’t weak and can actually be better than others at managing stress. However, the sheer amount of tasks on their plate or their biological predispositions can make it more of a struggle.
11. Depression Is Part of Aging
Some people think that getting sad is just a part of growing older, and while it can happen to aging populations, it isn’t just an inevitable part. Instead, many things can lead to depression, and dismissing it as just a normal part of life can make finding solutions hard.
12. Teens Have Mood Swings
People may also be more likely to dismiss teenagers that have mental health conditions and claim that it’s actually due to hormonal shifts and mood swings, or that they want attention. But plenty of teenagers experience these issues and can struggle coming of age.
13. There’s Nothing to be Sad About
Some think that mental health issues are directly linked with a lack of something. For instance, if you have a good job and lots of friends, you have nothing to be sad about. However, depression and anxiety can impact people for no identifiable reason.
14. You Have to Hit Rock Bottom
When it comes to helping people overcome or address these issues, some believe that they must first hit rock bottom. That means they must achieve the lowest possible low before they’re able to accept support, but in reality, early treatment is more effective.
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15. They’re Faking It
While some people do fake ailments online for attention, this isn’t the case for most people. In fact, most people actually try to hide their struggles due to fear of stigma.
16. Only Professionals Can Help
When it comes to mental ailments, most people may feel hesitant about getting involved—after all, they’re not professionals. But the reality is that friends and family are crucial to addressing these conditions, and simply offering support or listening is a major factor.
17. Self-Care is Selfish
Some people wrongly consider the act of self-care as selfish and see it as putting yourself above others or wasting time solely for your own benefit. But self-care is essential, as you can’t pour from an empty cup.
18. Positive Thinking Only
If you have a loved one experiencing mental ailments or sadness, you might think that the only way forward is to promote positive thinking. In fact, you may refuse to discuss anything that isn’t positive. But addressing this issue requires a lot more than that, and simply listening to whatever they have to say can be more helpful than forcing them to be positive.
19. Panic Attacks are Overreactions
If you’ve heard of the phrase panic attacks, you might think this person just feels overwhelmed and is making a big deal out of nothing. But actually, people experiencing panic attacks will have real symptoms ranging from chest pain to dizziness.
20. Mental Illness is a Modern Problem
While it’s certainly being talked about more now than before, mental illnesses have been around throughout history. There is plenty of documented evidence regarding this issue, and it was often dismissed in the past, leaving many to suffer.
