Mental Health

1 in 4 of us will experience Mental Health issues at some time within our life and this could be the effect of an experience that has had an impact on you.

The World Health organisation states: “Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”

Mental health affects our wellbeing and can affect how we feel about ourselves. It can affect how we interpret, see and communicate. Environmental and external factors can affect how to manage and cope with any change. Life changing events such as: a change of home, bereavement, divorce, isolation, new job, persecution and war, unemployment, poverty, racism and discrimination, or having a child etc. Can all impact on how we manage and express our emotions.

Mental health can have a negative stigma which causes a barrier to people who are receiving or asking for help. However, with the correct guidance and assistance people can receive better support to overcome any issues which are impacting on them.

A confirmed diagnosis will need to be given by a Doctor but the below will give an overview of a few of the conditions which may fall under the category of Mental health. These include:

The category of Mental health

Stress

Stress is the effect of everyday things which have an impact on your emotional and mental wellbeing. There are a number of things which can cause you to be stressed and this can relate to your personal life, your financial position, relationships with those around you, school or work life.

How we manage those pressures can be different and when those feelings increase it can cause you to worry, feel anxious, affect your sleep, reduce your appetite, reduce your concentration and become short tempered. The affects of stress can also make you become dizzy and have headaches.

Once you overcome what is worrying you, your stress can reduce however, it is important that we learn to manage those feelings and that the feeling s of stress do not escalate further.

Managing stress.

There are a number of things which you can do to manage your stress.

Recognise what is triggering the stress
Look at ways to alleviate this trigger – Understanding if it’s a feeling or fact
Find a way to manage this better – Responding to how you feel in a positive way

https://111.wales.nhs.uk/encyclopaedia/s/article/stress

Anxiety

Everyone can get feelings of anxiety but for some this can be more intense and long lasting, affecting your ability to perform everyday tasks. Anxiety can be mild to severe and can last for short or long lasting. The affects of this condition can have an impact on your life and can include some of these symptoms:

Palpitations, chest pain and rapid heart rate
Tightness of chest
Shortness of breath
Headaches, dizziness
Feeling flushed and having sweaty palms
Agitation
Vomiting, diarrhea, nausea

It can also impact on someone by:

Affecting memory or lack of concentration
Increased movement, nervousness and inability to relax
Lack of sleep, vivid dreams or Insomnia
Reduced appetite
Overthinking
Compulsive behavior
Feeling angry
Inability to think or make decisions
Feeling confused

https://111.wales.nhs.uk/encyclopaedia/a/article/anxiety

Depression

Each of us at some point can feel sad and this maybe for a short amount of time. However, depression can be the decline of interest in everyday experiences which have an effect on someone’s behavior, their rational, physical needs and emotions and would need to be present for more than two weeks to be diagnosed.

There are a number of factors which can contribute to someone becoming depressed; these can be environmental (impact or influence of something which is happening or as happened at home, in the community, at school or within work) or can be the affect of a medical condition or disability, substance or alcohol misuse.

There are a number of symptoms which people can exhibit, these can include:

Low fatigue
Decreased appetite
Insomnia or sleeping less.
Low moods
Anxiousness
Will self-blame

For further information

https://111.wales.nhs.uk/encyclopaedia/d/article/depression

Eating disorders

Can affect anyone although usually begin within the teenage years. During this time, people can have an unhealthy relationship with food, often eating too much or too little.

Binge eating – Consuming large amount of food at one time and then feeling remorseful about this.

Bulimia nervosa – Periods of consuming large amount of food, then wanting to vomit, use laxatives, diet supplements and participate in excessive exercise to reduce the calories that have been consumed.

Anorexia nervosa – Reduced or no consumption of food, can include excessive exercise.

Other specified or feeding eating disorder (OSFED) – Most common cause of eating disorder, symptoms do not match the exact same as any of the above but can be just as serious.

Additional information can be found at:

https://111.wales.nhs.uk/Bingeeating/

https://111.wales.nhs.uk/encyclopaedia/b/article/bulimia

https://111.wales.nhs.uk/encyclopaedia/a/article/anorexianervosa

https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/types/osfed