Top 5 Reasons You Should Not Ignore Your Mental Health

What will people say? Will I be segregated from society? 

These are just a few of the many reasons why people shun discussions on mental health but prefer to suffer in silence.  The stigma that's often associated with such illnesses as schizophrenia, and mental disorders that are very prevalent such as anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), hysteria, and so on, is usually based on unfounded myths. More often than not, we are obsessed with getting "6 packs", chiseled abs, bigger bums, and so on. However, mental health care is relegated to the background or attached importance, only when the symptoms are very evident. But there are many reasons why you should care for your mental health as you do for your body.

Let's look at five (5) major reasons.

• Your physical well-being depends on your mental state: It's No surprise, that the World Health Organization defines health as: "A state of complete PHYSICAL and MENTAL and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity" Mental and physical health are more interconnected than you think. Mental health issues have been proven to have far-reaching effects on physical well-being. It manifests as fatigue, insomnia, restlessness, body pains, and so on. People with mental health conditions are at high risk of chronic physical conditions. Hence, it's important to pay close attention to your mental health as you do for your physical health. 

• Early detection is key: Just like any other medical condition, early detection prevents it from snowballing into something worse. Aside from that, science has made huge leaps in the journey of better understanding mental health conditions. They have developed treatment regimens that enable one to live a healthy and normal life if it's detected early. You're not alone: it's more common than you think. Mental health conditions affect many people of different races, ages, and sexes: no one is left out. Statistics show that 1 out of 5 adults in the United States, battle one mental health issue or the other. That's not all. Only half of these people receive treatment. A person with a mental health condition is no different from any other person. 

• Promotes healthy relationships: Our relationship with others is a product of how we view and treat ourselves. If you view yourself in a poor manner, there's a high possibility that you'll treat others the same way or even worse. The first step to building healthy relationships with others is to take care of oneself better and have a greater sense of self-worth which is impossible if there's a mental health issue. 

• Promotes work productivity: The struggle, stress, and pressure that's attached to the workplace, can give rise to a nervous breakdown even in the strongest of people. It's even worse in people with prior mental health issues which can severely affect work performance and career development, and leads to a loss in workdays.

On the other hand, healthy mental status promotes better performance at work and stimulates career growth.

Conclusion

In your journey to caring for your mental health, it's the little things that matter: eat healthily, exercise more, sleep well, connect with friends and family, implement a healthy work-life balance, and dwell on positives. Your doctor is always on hand to listen to you, make a diagnosis, and guide you along the process to getting better. It's advisable to let family and friends who can provide emotional support, be aware of your situation.