| While there have been many advances made in the | | | | matter how mild or serious they are, we experience a |
| mental health field over the last quarter century, with | | | | range of emotions, such as anger, worry, and sadness. |
| mental health professionals acknowledging more and | | | | We feel that our bodies let us down. We feel that we |
| more mental illnesses and how they develop, one | | | | have no control. We may feel lonely or feel that |
| aspect of mental health is still not widely discussed. | | | | people don’t understand what we are going |
| This is the actual impact that physical illness has on | | | | through. |
| one’s mental health. | | | | The biggest concerns, from a mental health standpoint, |
| In fact, few people who are not in the mental health | | | | when it comes to long-term illness, are depression and |
| field even consider the part that physical illness plays | | | | anxiety. It is not at all uncommon for someone who is |
| when it comes to mental health. For example, when | | | | suffering from a long-term physical ailment to |
| you get a cold, you may be a little irritable, and most of | | | | experience either of these conditions. It is, however, |
| us would attribute the fact that we don’t feel good | | | | often overlooked and left untreated. This, of course, |
| to that irritability. | | | | can be very dangerous, and as research has shown, |
| However, it goes a little deeper than that. When we | | | | even have a negative impact on the physical recovery |
| don’t feel good – even if feeling bad comes | | | | process. |
| from a simple cold – we also tend to feel a little | | | | These days, doctors are more aware of how physical |
| ‘blue.’ Things that would not otherwise be a big | | | | ailments affect our mental health, and they are on the |
| deal in our lives become a little larger. We do not | | | | lookout for signs of anxiety or depression in their |
| respond or react as we normally would. | | | | patients. However, for the most part, your doctor will |
| Fortunately, the cold does not last long, and we get | | | | not be aware that a problem exists if you are not |
| back to being ‘normal.’ But what if that cold | | | | open and honest with them about your feelings and |
| turned into a long term illness, or even a fatal illness? | | | | what is going on in your life. |
| How does that affect our mental health? It affects | | | | Overall, it is perfectly fine and perfectly normal to feel |
| every area of your life, including personal relationships, | | | | a little blue when you are under the weather. But when |
| social interactions, work, and even religious beliefs and | | | | it comes to long term illnesses, you need to be able to |
| spirituality. With such illnesses, it isn’t even so much | | | | recognize the signs of depression and anxiety. When |
| a question of not feeling good, in the physical sense. It | | | | you see those signs, let your doctor know immediately, |
| is a question of not feeling good in the mental sense. | | | | and seek treatment. Don’t try to ‘go it alone’ |
| Naturally, when confronted with long-term illnesses, no | | | | and do not assume that ‘it will pass. |