Mental Health: Diseases and Awareness

Did you know that yesterday was Mental Health Awareness Day?


I imagine not. Mental health and related diseases are the least talked about in our country. Such negative a stigma has been placed on what is a very prevalent issue medical condition . There is nothing to be ashamed of or to hide from when it comes to mental illness.

According to the National Institute for Mental Health, a staggering one quarter of the U.S. adult population are diagnosable as having a mental disorder.

That is one in four.

Further, it has been estimated that nearly 20 percent of our children have or will suffer from a mental illness. And with the diagnoses of Autism and ADD on the rise, that number is going to increase as well.

The range of diseases and disorders that fall under the umbrella of mental illness are:

• Anixety (agroaphobia, GAD, OCD, panic disorder, PTSD, social, specific)
• ADD and ADHD
• Autism
• Eating disorders
• Mood disorders (bipolar or manic depressive, Dysthymic disorder, Major Depressive disorder)
• Personality disorders (any, antisocial, borderline, avoidant)
• Schizophrenia 

Perhaps one reason that mental illnesses don't get the recognition that is deserved has to do with the negative associations. No one has robbed a bank or committed manslaughter* because he or she suffered from diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis.

With any disease, there are varying degrees of severity. Yes, it is unfortunate that some that suffer severe symptoms find it necessary to be hospitalized; however, there are plenty of other people that live otherwise regular lives with proper medications and therapies.

I can say this with a bit of authority: I suffer from mental illness. Is my life any different because of it? Not really.

My actual diagnoses are Major Depressive Disorder, Generalized Anxiety, and Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder.

My first diagnosis came when I was 19. I sought help on my own. However, it is likely that my first symptoms were prevalent in adolescence.Of course, that was the 80s and NO ONE talked about such things.

 I have been hospitalized twice. Suffered through postpartum depression after all three births of my children.
But had I not told you this, you would have never known.

The vast majority of mental illnesses are not life-threatening. However, without proper care and treatment, they all can be debilitating. This is why I want to bring some light onto an otherwise hush-hush topic. It's not the medication that I take that helps me live my day to day life; it's the support.

THE SUPPORT.

My husband is probably the most easy-going person you would ever want to meet. He doesn't let things bother him or dwell on the negative. Early on in our relationship, he didn't buy into the whole "illness" diagnosis. He is like many "healthy" people in that regard. Those not understanding feel that a person should just "get over it," or "snap out of it." Getting a mental illness diagnosis is not like getting diagnosed with cancer or even a broken foot. There are no tangible results one can lay hands on.

Over time, he realized that my illness is real. And while the medication (if taken properly) makes life bearable for me, it's not the medication alone that is doing the work. It is his care and understanding that makes living worthwhile.

If you suspect someone you know or love is suffering from a mental illness, offer to find help and then be a good support system.



If you are suffering and feel like all hope is lost, find a support system.

Perhaps if we can all work together to bring the stigma of mental illness out of the dark and into the light, we change someone's life.

 Don't be afraid to support awareness for Mental Illness even beyond the month of May.




For more resources, visit:
Mental Health America
SAMHSA
National Institute for Mental Health








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Getting More Than I Asked For

Today, I asked my children to list the things that make me an awesome mom. I did not give them time to think and use all manner of brown-nosing to serve an end to their never-ending means.


May I present to you, "What Makes Cool And Hip An Awesome Mom":


Darrin (four days shy of 11) says I am:

• interactive and fun
• helpful when needed
• knowledgeable "about a lot of stuff"

Coincidentally, those are the same adjectives I use to describe Google. 

Next, Nicholas (12) thinks I:

•  can write good (I better explain proper superlatives. State testing is this week.)
• help when he needs help

He also loves that I take him to the library and "let me get almost any book I want and as many as I want." 

When Darrin said that I knew lots of stuff, I asked him if he could give me some examples. He is a mini-man of few words, but Nicholas decided to add some examples:

1. "You know how to write." He was not specific if this was as in using a pen or story-telling. 
2. "You know the rules of grammar." Well, he thinks I know them all. 
3. "You know the Triangle Inequality Theorem." What? Doesn't everyone?

Last but not least, Jessica sent me her thoughts in a text:

She turns eighteen in eighteen days. Needless to say, I have had many Mother's Days. Every year has been a bit bitter sweet, and this year will be exceptionally emotional.


But, hearing all the things that my children think about me? This may be the best Mother's Day I have ever had.


You, too, can make someone's Mother's Day a little brighter. If you haven't heard of the Tiny company with the perfect Prints, then let me introduce you:

   

 "Tiny Prints provides simple, modern and unique stationery from Fathers Day Cards to personalized greeting cards to thank you cards, business cards, and even custom wedding invitations or photo birth announcements. Offering exclusive designs from the nation’s top designers, easy card personalization, a powerful preview engine and top-notch customer service and paper quality, their designs have been lauded by numerous television networks, publications and celebrities. With Tiny Prints by your side commemorating every holiday and momentous occasion is a cinch! They offer perfect party invitations for every occasion and memorable personalized photo-gifts like notebooks, photo books and calendars to commemorate the event."

Check out their selection now to get that deserving lady a special card this Mother's Day. When you receive your order, which I KNOW will be fast, take a few minutes and write down three, five, or seven things that make her an awesome mom. 

I can guarantee she will treasure it always. 

 This post was sponsored by Tiny Prints. Please see my Disclosure page for any questions.

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Save the Children: Mothers Helping Mothers

We watched it live on television. Safe and dry.

We knew where our children were. We may have even complained about a mess, paused for a tickle and hug, or wondered how we'd get them picked up from school and to their extracurriculars, yet manage to get a decent supper on the table.

We tweeted our thoughts. We prayed for the safety of those affected.

In time, we managed to carry on with our regular routine.

But....

Our next-door neighbors did not have such a luxury. It is estimated that as many as 100,000 children have been displaced because of the earthquake and resulting tsunami that devastated parts of Japan. Due to the mid-afternoon disaster, many children were in school when the devastation struck. As horrific as it may be, imagine for one moment that it was you. Would you hope that someone would help?

Today, my fellow Mothers and I are urging you to make a difference in the lives of the earthquake victims, save the children and reunite families.

Post, tweet, donate.

 Let's stick together and help our mothers in need.  Save the Children.

Tweets can be directed to @SavetheChildren or RT @savethechildren Please donate to our #Japan #Earthquake #Tsunami 'Children in Emergency Fund' http://bit.ly/h1PgYu #HelpJapan

Donations are handled securely here :Savethechildren.org

Follow my other Mothers: Post With a Purpose


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