Ashamed, scared, and embarrassed? The mix of these emotions always prevents people from sharing their experiences with a doctor. However, if you want to live a fuller life, it is more than just being physically healthy. Mental health is as important as the health of the body is. Unfortunately, mental health is a widely stigmatised issue, which is why people despise talking about it.

So if you ever experience some weird symptoms in the body of mental illness, it is imperative to see a doctor. Start by being honest to yourself and then to the person who is in charge of your issue. Following are a few reasons why you should take mental health seriously:

Mental illness is very common

You will be shocked to know that 1 in every 6 Americans suffers from anxiety disorders. The rest of them suffer from different kinds of mental health conditions. Experts claim, more than 50 million people in the world suffer from mental health issues.

However, this figure is acknowledged as underrated because many cases are never reported. Most people tend to not talk about their mental health issues with the sheer fear of ostracisation and social taboo.

Disease can increase

Just as mental illness causes different problems in the body, there are many other conditions that can enhance the chances of your mental illness. This is true of chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart stroke, cancer, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, etc. this also works for trauma such as head injuries. The good news is, doctors are becoming more aware of mental health issues and coming up with solutions.

Mental health issues can run in families

Family history is a staunch indicator if you will also suffer from a mental health issue. Because it runs in families, there is always a chance of someone getting stuck with it from the younger generation.

If you are sceptical about yourself, it is essential to visit the doctor with concrete information regarding the family history, such as anything related to somebody’s heart disease, anxiety disorder, stress, etc.

Mental health affects physical health

It is easy for some people to think of mental health as different from physical health. However, the truth be told, both are correlated. If a person isn’t mentally fit, they will have physical problems in life for sure. Addiction is one case where a victim’s physical and mental health are both at risk. If you are concerned about a loved one, it is imperative to get residential addiction treatment to get rid of the issue.

Early detection can create a difference

Although there is always a chance for one to recover, detection at an early stage can make it easy for doctors to treat the patient. Unlike a situation where things transition from bad to worse, early detection of an upcoming mental health issue can protect a person from losing a job, getting ostracised from the social circle, losing a loved one, ending up having a failed marriage, etc. Therefore it is wise enough to check with a doctor as soon as possible.

***

Image credit: Freepik

Peter Wallace has been an advocate for mental health awareness for years. He holds a master’s degree in counselling from the University of  Edinburgh.