1. We are all along a continuum of mental health from wellness to illness. Throw in enough trauma and any one of us could be suffering from anxiety or depression. A predisposition or family history of mental illness means you may have inherited a gun that is already loaded-- but your genes don't determine your destiny, you do.
2. We can minimize our risk for mental illness by adopting habits that also improve our overall well-being; mindfulness, yoga, exercise, good relationships, good nutrition, adequate sleep, minimizing stress. Did I mention music, mindfulness and owning a pet? Yes. There's good medicine beyond the pharmacy AND pharmaceuticals can be extremely helpful if they are used as a screwdriver, not as a jackhammer.
3. Recovery is possible. Hope and optimism may be hard to find when you or your family member is in crisis. Don't panic. Do your research to find the groups advocating for an integrated approach to recovery. Join NAMI or Mental Health America It's free.
The people there will help you understand that what you are experiencing is more common than we admit: One in five people will suffer from a serious mental illness.
Answers & Comments
1. We are all along a continuum of mental health from wellness to illness. Throw in enough trauma and any one of us could be suffering from anxiety or depression. A predisposition or family history of mental illness means you may have inherited a gun that is already loaded-- but your genes don't determine your destiny, you do.
2. We can minimize our risk for mental illness by adopting habits that also improve our overall well-being; mindfulness, yoga, exercise, good relationships, good nutrition, adequate sleep, minimizing stress. Did I mention music, mindfulness and owning a pet? Yes. There's good medicine beyond the pharmacy AND pharmaceuticals can be extremely helpful if they are used as a screwdriver, not as a jackhammer.
3. Recovery is possible. Hope and optimism may be hard to find when you or your family member is in crisis. Don't panic. Do your research to find the groups advocating for an integrated approach to recovery. Join NAMI or Mental Health America It's free.
The people there will help you understand that what you are experiencing is more common than we admit: One in five people will suffer from a serious mental illness.