DR MAXWELL ADEYEMI
Very often, people are faced with challenging situations that demand seeking professional help in various aspect of life. But due to perception and poor understanding of what help can be received, or due to misplaced pride and fear of stigmatisation, some people needlessly suffer in silence.
There is growing awareness that mental health problems are common and there may be a need to see mental health professionals in order to receive expert care and interventions. However, several misconceptions and questions continue to swirl around who needs to see a mental health professional, what should the expectations be, how does it work and some opine that they can be fine by themselves and need no professional help.
A mental illness is a disease that causes mild to severe disturbances in thought and/or behaviour, resulting in an inability to cope with life ordinary demands and routines. They include depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, eating disorders and addictive behaviours. Mental health problems may be related to excessive stress due to a particular situation or series of events. As with cancer, diabetes and heart disease, mental illnesses are often physical as well as emotional and psychological. They may be caused by a reaction to environmental stresses, genetic factors, biochemical imbalances, or a combination of these. A mental health concern becomes a mental illness when ongoing signs and symptoms cause frequent stress and affect your ability to function. Signs and symptoms can vary depending on the disorder, circumstances and other factors. Common symptoms include feeling sad or down; confused thinking or reduced ability to concentrate; excessive fears or worries; extreme feelings of guilt; extreme mood changes of highs and lows; withdrawal from friends and activities; significant tiredness; low energy or problems sleeping; detachment from reality (delusions); paranoia or hallucinations; inability to cope with daily problems or stress; trouble understanding and relating to situations and to people; alcohol or drug abuse; major changes in eating habits; sex drive changes; excessive anger; hostility or violence; suicidal thinking. Sometimes symptoms of a mental health disorder appear as physical problems, such as stomach pain; back pain; headache; or other unexplained aches and pains.
Anyone may need to see a mental health professional if they are having difficulties with things such as their thinking, emotions, behaviour, sleep, interpersonal and social relationships, day-to-day functioning, or controlling drug abuse. But mental health professionals do not only see people who have mental illnesses. Some people may seek therapy to resolve problems with anxiety, family and interpersonal functioning, marital difficulties, self-esteem issues, addictive behaviours, anger management issues and so on. Some people also have diagnosable mental health challenges that may require specific treatments and interventions.
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