Living with mental illness is no walk in the park

OVER the past three weeks, we have highlighted the unrecognised significance of mental illness and disorders in our community – and the importance of a deeper understanding, knowledge and awareness of mental health.

Last week in particular advocated increased protection of children in society, to prevent child neglect, abuse and exploitation. This week rounds up.

I am a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, which began around the age of three and persisted for years afterward.

As a result of the trauma I experienced as a young child, my life was forever changed, biologically, physically and psychologically.

As an adult survivor of childhood sexual abuse, I face many challenges while trying to survive as a productive member of society in the 21st century.

One would assume that with information, technology, social media and news at one’s fingertips, there would be less ignorance, stigma, misconceptions and outright denial of mental illness and disorders.

In my experience, however, this is far from the reality for many who experience the negative impact of debilitating health issues.

The denial of the existence of mental illnesses and disorders is one of the greatest challenges faced by the mental health community, which aims to promote awareness.

This could be in part due to the abstract nature and lack of tangible symptoms in common illnesses such as depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress.

I believe this is the tip of the iceberg in respect of misconceptions around mental health in our country.

It’s crucial that society understands that not all clinically significant illnesses or disorders require a bold physical presence to have an impact on the daily life of an individual.

In many cases, the presence of a mental health issue goes unrecognised, is not physically visible and can make someone unable to express their distress appropriately as a result of limited knowledge and awareness of when a feeling, thought or behavioural urge is cause for concern.

This is usually when a person loses interest in appearance and activities previously enjoyed. The individual becomes reserved, opts for seclusion and can take physical action to relieve the distress through self-mutilation or even suicide attempts.

This outward behavioural attempt to express inward turmoil often results in secondary trauma where the response involves insensitive questions, judgment, ignorance, harsh comments and stigma related to hearsay over reasons for the incident.

In my case, sexual abuse led to misplaced anger, guilt and shame. My self-worth, image and selfesteem were distorted.

This resulted in self-mutilation and suicidal ideations simply because I did not recognise that the sexual abuse had caused a physical and biological change in my brain functions, creating psychological disturbances.

These real, tangible although concealed, changes to my brain resulted in distorted thought patterns over my self-concept and identity and made me see myself as unwanted and inadequate.

However, many in my family and community did not understand my circumstances and struggle, compared to people with “real problems and sicknesses who were worse off than I was and would be grateful to have the life I have”.

I know I am not the only person with a mental illness, particularly depression, anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder who has had to swallow these words with a polite smile, even though inside the tiny embers of self-realisation again threatened to be extinguished.

It is to my dismay that many in society still don’t appreciate the seriousness of mental illness and its impact. Some even go as far as to say depression is just an easy way out of hard work or a means of getting attention.

The irony is that the lack of appreciation of the seriousness of mental disorders is the reason many people do not admit they are distressed or seek help or support until they are “drowning” in psychological distress.

May saw the launch of mental health awareness campaigns that advocate the prevention of abuse and psychological distress while making people aware that mental illness is a debilitating condition with repercussions that permeate all sectors of society.

Let’s make it our responsibility to educate ourselves so that we can recognise the presence of mental illnesses.

Let’s also, as a community, promote mental health care and fight the stigma and misconceptions so that those who are negatively affected get the treatment and rehabilitation they need and which will allow them to realise their potential, cope with life and contributed to society. In the process, we will create a better, happier future for the next generation.

Munsami is a research psychologist and PHD candidate in neuroscience.