Mental health while becoming more accepted in society can still be a very frightening thing. Like so many things that we are frightened of it is not what it is but the fear of the unknown that is the problem. Often in my practice I am asked am I going crazy (whatever that might mean) and it is almost a cry for a label to hang on these symptoms that are so difficult to understand and deal with.
Very often when we first encounter stress, or anxiety or depression for the first time we will do something which we don’t recognise in ourselves. That might be getting angry or bursting into tears. It might be we experience fear when we think of ourselves as someone who is fearless. Part of the problem can be that moment of the rug being taken from under our feet in that we are no longer sure who we are.
The response that many of us will try is to carry on as normal to try not to make a fuss and to put a brave face on our feelings and thoughts. Yet in reality we are pushing them away and rather like holding a beach ball under water eventually we will not be able to hold them back and they will surface again. It is also likely the emotions will surface with increased intensity each time you don’t deal with them and push them back.
Many try to self-medicate their problems with alcohol or drugs and these can have an effect by numbing the problems but their effect is only temporary and they come with their own set of problems. Ultimately with mental health issues you will have to deal with the problem face to face.
Going to the GP with a mental health problem is no longer an ordeal. They are not standing by to put you in hospital nor are they ready to stand by to judge you as any less worthy of treatment than if you had a broken leg. Indeed 1 in 3 people in your Dr Surgery is likely to be there to talk about a mental health problem so you are not alone. There are a range of effective treatments (including counselling) for mental health issues that can really help.
So get treatment today then the only thing you’ll need a beach ball for is the beach