By Daily Nation
Getting a chronic illness diagnosis can be devastating. It could mean getting into a certain type of medication for a long time, even for life. The medications could come with major side-effects. It could also mean changing a lifestyle to ensure symptoms are well managed, which could deprive a person of what they enjoy doing.
‘HEADS UP’
For mental illnesses, most patients are excited to receive their diagnosis; they find relief in the symptoms and discover ways to cope effectively.
For a long time, I could not stand being in a crowded place, some smells or sounds, an enclosed place such as a lift or even a place that was overheated or not well ventilated. On some days, colour red would be too alarming, sending me into a panic. When I understood that I had an anxiety disorder, I was excited and free; it is as if I had received a ticket to live free of such an anxiety-related life!
Many people utter the phrase “depression is real” when they hear of a suicidal individual or a person who died by suicide, but what does this even mean? Are all mental illnesses depression? Could some patients suffer from other forms of mental illness?
Over the weekend, the third round kick-off times of the FA Cup tournament, in the United Kingdom, were delayed by one minute for the ‘Heads Up’ mental health campaign. The campaign is fronted by Prince William with the hope of ensuring fans take a minute to think about their mental health. Read more>>
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