FERNWOOD FITNESS - PULSE eMagazine - Issue#14 - Flipbook - Page 23
Mental health, diagnosis,
counselling and support
are all terms that are
widely used today. They
feature in everyday
language, and real
progress has been made
in making these concepts
more acceptable. Yet
for many people, there
can still be an element
of shame or discomfort
at the thought that they
might be experiencing
mental ill health.
This is a challenging
topic to talk and read
about. Sharing and
exploring experiences of
mental health can feel
confronting but can also
be cathartic. Even though
some of the themes
can seem bleak, there is
an underlying sense of
optimism, positivity and a
genuine silver lining.
A mental health journey
is rarely a neat, linear
process. Each day can
feel different. Some days
are up. Some are down.
What matters most is
acting on feelings rather
than allowing them to
build up until they seem
to pervade every part of
life. When faced with a
mental health condition,
it can feel all consuming,
but taking action helps
keep that feeling in check.
Why A Mental Health
Diagnosis Does Not
De昀椀ne You
Stress, anxiety and
depression are common
experiences. Many people
will encounter one or
more of these, whether
the symptoms are mild
or more severe. Wherever
someone sits on the
mental health spectrum,
seeking support is the
way forward. Suppressing
feelings and not acting
can lead to serious
consequences. Health
Direct notes that hiding
emotions may increase
feelings of isolation and
may worsen mental
health issues.
A diagnosis is a call to
action, not your identity
Many people bury their
feelings for years. They
Breaking Down Mental Health Stigmas
Stigmatisation and discrimination can loom large for people
experiencing mental ill health. Phrases like “keep calm and
carry on” or “what have you got to cry about” can stall a
mental health journey. Over time these messages can start
to feel true. That is one of the biggest problems with stigma.
People are made to believe it.
Even when someone consciously rejects these beliefs,
they can still be hard to shake. Most people have a little
inner voice. For those living with mental health issues,
that voice can become a 昀椀erce critic. It might say they are
weak, pathetic or dishonest. Stigmatisation can lead to real
challenges for people experiencing mental health issues.
may believe they are not
allowed to feel the way
they do because they
had a good childhood,
a good job or loving
relationships. Yet that
belief does not re昀氀ect
reality. Mental health
does not discriminate.
Anyone can be affected
by the mental health
gremlins that creep into
the mind. This is where a
diagnosis can help.
It can be confronting
to hear that something
is wrong. This is rarely
news anyone wants. Yet
it is also the 昀椀rst step
toward 昀椀nding a sense
of self again. It is only
the beginning though.
Acting on the diagnosis,
recognising that it does
not de昀椀ne identity, and
seeking support are all
crucial. The journey may
feel like an uphill battle
with twists and turns, but
action is the 昀椀rst step
toward recovery.
