Mental Health

Madi Gibson, MVC Writer

Every day people struggle with different varieties of mental illnesses. Whether it be depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, or eating disorders, mental health affects people in so many different ways.
It is important to bring awareness to the community. Mental disorders bring a variation of problems to the table. According to researchers with Mental Health of America, “mental health conditions are common and widespread. An estimated 44 million Americans suffer from some form of mental disorder given in a year.” More Americans suffer from mental health issues than populate the entire state of California.
Individuals who go through major depression are most likely struggling with severe anxiety. These two disorders go hand in hand when consuming a person’s mental state. Depression and anxiety stem from the same chemical imbalance in the brain, but are expressed quite differently. Depression can cause headaches, stomach pains, and a loss of interest. In contrast, anxiety deals with the fight or flight model of the body. Like depression, anxiety can cause stomach pains and headaches, but it also can involve shortness of breath, shakiness, restlessness, and dizziness. These two together can be a dangerous combination.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are very common. OCD is found in many young children or adults with high anxiety levels. This disorder consists of needing things orderly and aggressive thoughts of losing control. PTSD comes from trauma from distressing events. This can be found in many military veterans or even people who struggle with past abusive relationships.
Eating disorders are one of the widespread disorders doctors are seeing more frequently. According to doctors worldwide, 30 million people in the United States suffer from an eating disorder. An eating disorder can be life-threatening, especially in young teens. People with eating disorders can be preoccupied by the weight gain or weight loss they are experiencing, their outward appearance, or the overall fear of being judged while eating.
All of this disarray is affecting the world and the people around us. To understand more visit https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/supporting-someone-in-a-mental-health-crisis.