11 myths about mental health, debunked

In recent years we have witnessed an important movement in favor of mental health. A subject that until not long ago was taboo today has been put on the table. Thus, more and more people are speaking openly about their emotional difficulties and do not hesitate to seek professional help to work on it. However, it is true that there is still much work to be done.

The deficiencies in emotional education are evident in the population, and despite the arduous dissemination campaign in which many professionals and experts participate, it is obvious that erroneous beliefs about mental health continue to exist. In this article we are going to try to disprove some of the most widespread myths in relation to this aspect.

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11 myths about mental health

Next, we'll talk about some common myths about mental health.

1. Smart people don't suffer from mental health problems.

On many occasions, it is considered that intelligence makes people immune to psychological suffering. However, nothing is further from reality.

Emotional problems can affect anyone, regardless of their economic resources, their intelligence, their age or gender.. Quite simply, we are all susceptible to it, so it is a mistake to associate psychological problems with lower intellectual capacity.

2. It is only necessary to take care of mental health when there is a psychopathology

Many people continue to believe that mental health care only has a place when there is a diagnosis of psychopathology. However, each and every one of us should attend to our psychological well-being through habits that favor it. In the same way that we take care of our diet and exercise to keep our body healthy, we must knowing how to set limits, learning to manage our emotions, taking breaks, taking care of our social relationships, etc Many times, this care can help us prevent possible emotional problems in the future, so it is not necessary to wait for a certain disorder to appear before acting.

3. Children do not suffer from mental health problems

One of the most widespread and harmful myths is the one that maintains that children do not suffer from mental health problems. This has its origin in the belief that childhood is a naturally happy and carefree time, although nothing could be further from the truth.. Many boys and girls go through difficulties and complicated moments of suffering. Therefore, it is important to understand that there is no age to suffer from mental health problems. Both children and adults can experience this situation and everyone deserves to receive attention and help when it happens, without minimizing or denying it.

4. Teenagers don't suffer from mental health problems, they just suffer from hormonal changes.

Another erroneous belief is the one that maintains that adolescents do not suffer from mental health problems, but that they have emotional alterations derived from their hormonal changes. It is true that adolescence is a complicated time where many physical, social and emotional changes take place that can foster some emotional instability. However, the reality is that many adolescents experience psychological difficulties that go beyond the changes of the stage. The fact that it is an evolutionary moment with changes does not nullify the possibility of psychopathologies appearing. In fact, adolescence is a critical phase in which many psychological disorders debut.

5. Mental health problems are inevitable

Many times, it is assumed that mental health problems are an unavoidable reality. However, this is not at all so. An important part of the emotional problems that afflict the population are preventable if the appropriate interventions are carried out. Among the measures that can help to reduce the risk of psychopathology is the training of social skills, the Establishing an adequate bond with parents, having adequate health habits, having solid social support, etc

6. People who suffer from psychological problems are weak

Another frequent belief is the one that defends that psychological problems only affect weak people. However, this is flatly false. Emotional disorders are not something that can be chosen or that depends on willpower. They constitute health problems that occur as a consequence of the confluence of various variables. No one would think that a medical illness appears because the person did not resist what enough, however, vision is usually much harsher on people when it comes to psychopathologies.

7. People who have a life without problems cannot suffer from mental problems

Another frequent idea is the one that maintains that people without problems cannot suffer from mental problems. However... What do we understand by not having problems? Many times we assume that everything will be fine if we have money or people who love us around us.. However, sometimes having apparently "everything" something inside fails us. Having a life without apparent problems in the eyes of others or that there are people with more complicated situations does not take away our right to feel bad. In mental health, each person has unique circumstances and the suffering of each one should never be minimized or compared.

8. People with mental health problems never recover

It is common to see how many people assume that mental health problems are chronic. It is thought that people who suffer from them never recover, to which is added an enormous stigma that makes those who suffer from them feel discriminated against, undervalued, or judged. It is important to keep in mind that mental health problems can not only improve, but can be completely resolved if proper treatment is available.

9. People with mental problems are violent

Another erroneous but widespread belief is the one that holds that people with mental problems are violent and aggressive. The truth is that this is false, although this idea has been greatly influenced by the information exposed in the media. The specific cases in which people with mental illnesses have hurt or harmed others have been highly publicized, creating a completely biased image of individuals with psychopathologies.. More than aggressors, those who suffer from mental problems tend to play the role of victims, since their condition makes them more vulnerable to violence.

10. People suffering from mental illness lead bad lifestyle habits

Another common myth is the one that maintains that people with mental problems are those with inappropriate lifestyle habits, who consume drugs or alcohol. However, this is false. It is true that substances can trigger the onset of many psychopathologies, but that does not mean that all people with emotional problems suffer for this reason. Psychological disorders are always multifactorial, which means that they are not due to a single cause. On the contrary, there are many variables that can favor them. In short, not everyone who goes through emotional difficulties has to use drugs or harmful substances.

11. People with mental illness cannot lead full lives

Many people believe that suffering from a mental illness is synonymous with ceasing to live. However, this is also not true. In general, having a psychopathological disorder does not have to prevent the person from being able to continue with his life, especially if he has adequate treatment. Forming a family, having a job, leading a satisfying social life... are things that can be achieved even if you have emotional difficulties.

However, it must be taken into account that not all psychopathologies are equally serious and not all people deal with them in the same way.. The most complex cases in this sense are those in which there are psychotic symptoms, which can cause more social difficulties and reduce the person's daily functioning.

conclusions

In this article we have talked about some common myths about mental health. Although in recent years the stigma around mental illness has been reduced and a public debate on this issue has been opened, the truth is that there is still a lot of ignorance about it. This causes many myths and misconceptions about mental health to proliferate, which can make it difficult for those experiencing some type of emotional difficulty to understand.

Many times, having psychological problems is linked to weakness, drug use or lack of intelligence. The mistake is also made of assuming that children and adolescents cannot suffer from psychological problems. On the other hand, many times it is believed that mental illnesses prevent us from leading a full life or that they are intractable chronic conditions.

In the same way, it is common to think that it is not possible to prevent mental health problems, when many of them are preventable. In addition, there is a significant stigma around mental illness because it is often associated with violent or aggressive and maladaptive behaviors. This is not exactly the case, since the majority of people who suffer from mental illnesses are not only not aggressive, but are victims of violence due to their greater vulnerability.