Undiagnosed Mental Health Disorders Arises Stigma
Recently, I’ve been spending a lot of my time watching Instagram Reels. Some videos involve a person being openly aware of how mentally unwell they are. However, they remain undiagnosed. Upon research, I realized that this is where stigma remains. Despite being open about it, they still feel a little bit of shame about getting or seeking medical help.
For a little bit of information, stigma is when someone negatively sees you because of your mental illness. Discrimination, on the other hand, is when someone negatively treats you because of your mental illness. Despite being open about feeling mentally unwell, these people remain undiagnosed to avoid experiencing these kinds of things.
Undiagnosed Mental Health Disorders Arises Stigma
Millions of people suffer from mental illness that severely interferes with major life activities. Sadly, more than half of these mental illnesses go undiagnosed and untreated. This, then, leaves adults and children unnecessarily suffering from symptoms. General anxiety disorder, clinical depression, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, PTSD, and schizophrenia are the most common mental health disorders that often go undiagnosed.
Stigma and shame around receiving treatment keep people from getting the help that they need. Poverty also keeps someone from asking for assistance. Aside from that, it also remains difficult to find a therapist that they like. It makes them feel hopeless about finding a therapist that would make them feel better. So, they eventually give up without finding the right treatment for their needs.
Untreated mental illnesses can lead to more serious health problems.
Untreated mental illness can lead to more serious health problems. It worsens mental health issues as they won’t get better on their own. The longer an illness persists, the more difficult it can be to treat and recover. For example, untreated anxiety may escalate to panic attacks, and failing to address trauma can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder.
Since the mind copes in different ways, undiagnosed and untreated mental health disorders can also lead to chronic pain. It includes aches, pains, and gastrointestinal distress that have no physical source. Over time, aches and pains will become detrimental to their physical health. Chronic stress, on the other hand, can also link to a higher risk of strokes, heart attacks, and obesity. Although mental illness might reside in their brain, it affects their entire body.
Aside from chronic physical health issues, it can also cause instability in your daily life. For example, severe depression will make it difficult to get out of bed, let alone get dressed, and do some housework. It could lead to a loss of a job, to losing their home. Anxiety or PTSD can make communication difficult.
Stigma often comes from a lack of understanding or fear. Inaccurate or misleading media representations of mental illness contribute to both of those factors. A review of studies on stigma shows that while the public may accept the medical or genetic nature of a mental health disorder and the need for treatment, many people still have a negative view of those with mental illness.
