How Mental Health Conditions Impact People’s Lives

Mental health used to be a taboo subject that people were too afraid or ashamed to speak about, even among friends and family. Luckily, today less stigma surrounds mental health conditions. Those who suffer from mental health conditions, of which there are many, have their lives impacted by that reality in many different ways.

3 Ways Mental Health Issues Can Impact Your Life.

Difficulty Performing Everyday Tasks

Many people with more severe mental health conditions have difficulty performing everyday tasks. They may find it difficult to brush their teeth, shower, or even get out of bed. These are the kinds of struggles that are most difficult for mental health patients to discuss with friends, family, or medical professionals openly because it’s difficult for them to admit that these everyday tasks are beyond them. They fear the judgment of people who don’t have to struggle against conditions like anxiety, depression, paranoia, and others. These conditions affect not just their minds, but their bodies as well.

Difficulty Making Friends

Whether they have difficulty performing everyday tasks or not, people with mental health conditions may find it difficult to make friends. Leaving home may be difficult, making it much less likely they’ll be able to meet new people and make friends or meet old friends in order to maintain existing friendships. It may even be too difficult for them to maintain amicable relationships with their own family members. As a result, many people struggling with mental health problems lead very lonely lives.

Difficulty Finding Work

It should come as no surprise that many people suffering from these conditions have difficulty finding suitable work. Struggling with these conditions day after day leaves many mental health patients feeling too tired and defeated to pursue any meaningful work. Aside from that, they may struggle with feelings of inadequacy to meet the demands of a regular workplace. Those who suffer from anxiety and depression are likely among the most susceptible to feeling inadequately prepared to handle the daily stresses of a work environment. Anxiety can make a person worry incessantly about their capabilities being subpar, for example. Meanwhile, depression may make a person feel like they are not good enough to succeed at anything. Unfortunately, some patients even suffer from multiple conditions at once.

Patients suffering from mental health issues may find it very difficult to perform everyday tasks, make friends or maintain existing friendships, and find work. Thankfully, nowadays it’s much easier for them to find help.

Getting Help

If you find yourself facing one of the above consequences of your mental health condition, consider options for getting help.

1. For some diet can make a difference in mental health. Eating a rainbow of healthy, whole foods and avoiding unhealthy fats and high-sugar foods gives your brain and body the fuel it needs to run at its best. This can also help break patterns of mood swings that can come with eating processed foods. Give yourself grace! Take it slow and try replacing one food for a healthy food.
2. Exercising may be helpful for your mental health. Research shows that exercise triggers the release of feel-good hormones and helps keep your mind and body healthy. Consider taking a walk outside as a starting place. Being ingreen spaces and outside gives exercise an added boost.
3. Certain essential oils and some herbs can help reduce tension and anxiety.
4. Seek professional help. Making an appointment with a counselor might be the first step in being able to a life that is freer from your mental health condition. The following are a selection of types of therapy.