Reports show that mental health “issues” are on the rise – especially since the pandemic – and it’s being talked about in the news, in magazines and web-based articles, and definitely on many online platforms.
As the conversation turns from Fear Of Missing Out (FOMO) to Joy Of Missing Out (JOMO), some are questioning whether, in an effort to destigmatize mental health issues, they are being glamorized. Romanticizing mental health issues can be as harmful as ignoring them.
Feeling sad or nervous is a normal human response to many events or circumstances and does not indicate a mental health disorder. Hearing about something over and over...and over again can make it seem more prevalent than it actually is and identifying with it can seem appealing as a new way to “fit in”. The lines get blurry in areas like anxiety and depression because these are emotions that everyone experiences from time to time.
Other real concerns about the “commodification of both sadness and self-care” is that severe mental health issues can be overlooked and less clinically significant symptoms may be aggravated causing genuine healthy mental issues. In other words, studies show that there is a point where "awareness" overlaps with "social contagion" - we can literally contribute to our own mental illness that could have been avoided.
If you exhibit symptoms that cause you or your friends and loved ones to be concerned, you should actively seek answers from a professional.
Reaching a diagnosis can be a complex process and we should never try to do it on our own. You may be surprised to learn:
• there are many treatments available today.
• many strategies show positive results relatively quickly.
• finding support can be very affordable and convenient.
You may also find comfort in knowing you aren’t alone…regardless of whether you actually have a clinical diagnosis or not.
It’s a good idea to be aware of and protect your own mental health, but it’s also important not to mistake normal sadness or anxiety brought on by life’s circumstances, for example, with a clinically diagnosed mental illness.
If you want to talk to someone or are experiencing suicidal thoughts, in the U.S., call 988 or text the Crisis Text Line at 741-741. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can also be reached at 1-800-273-8255.
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