Mental and Chronic Illness
Among the greatest trials many face on a daily basis are battles with chronic and/or mental illness. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, approximately one in five adults in the United States suffers from conditions of mental illness. (Mental Illness). In 2014, an article by the National Health Council states that “chronic diseases affect approximately 133 million Americans representing more than 40% of the total population of this country.” (About Chronic Diseases). Even more, almost one third of the American population live with more than one chronic condition. (About Chronic Diseases). While these high numbers might be disheartening, for those who are suffering they could also prove to be a source of hope in the knowledge that they are not alone. Many people in today’s world understand the tiredness, anxiety, fear, and sadness that comes from dealing with these conditions. Even those who are not suffering from them directly are striving daily to try to carry the weight of such burdens of loved ones in their lives.
In 1972, it was found that 10 percent of children by the age of 18 will have experienced a physical chronic disorder. (Pless, et al). Things have only gotten worse since then. According to the government website youth.gov, now one in every four to five youth will “meet criteria for a lifetime mental disorder that is associated with severe role impairment and/or distress..” (youth.gov). This is astounding. It is difficult to see that the ones who we call the “rising generation” are reportedly having to deal with such hardships like this. It is difficult to imagine the impact this will have on those families.
In 2013, the American Psychological Association released an article addressing parents on how to cope with a child who has been diagnosed with a chronic illness. (apa.org). It is common to have feelings of anger, guilt, or sadness toward yourself, your partner, or even your child. A study found that parents who accept their child’s condition and focus on the problem experience lower levels of anxiety than parents who avoid or deny the situation. (Norberg, et al)
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Breaking the Stigma
A major deterrent to some abilities to cope with mental illness is the social stigma that is placed on such disorders. Many people are ashamed to admit they have a mental illness and choose to hide it inside rather than seek professional help. They are afraid of what others might think of them if their conditions are exposed. Fortunately, there are some ways to overcome the mental illness stigma which enhance one’s ability to cope with their illness. Healthdirect.org provides some simple steps to follow to deal with the stigma.
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1. Don’t believe that you are your illness.
2. Don’t take it personally.
3. Use facts.
4. Tell your story.
5. Choose who you deal with.
(Dealing with Mental Illness Stigma)
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Mental illness is difficult to deal with, but it can become easier to handle if one does not define themselves by the illness. It may be a part of who they are, but they do not have to feel less about themselves because of it. Mental illness is nothing to be ashamed of, especially because it is not something someone chooses to go through. There is no reason to cope alone in order to prevent others from knowing about the condition. Hope is found in the many options of help available for people who suffer from mental and chronic illnesses and many people are truly benefiting from this help.