How did I develop my Mental Health Condition?
You or someone you love has been diagnosed with depression, anxiety, PTSD, or another mental illness. But, how did this happen?
Mental Health has been, and continues to be, surrounded by stigma. Patients are afraid of receiving a mental illness diagnosis as they are often viewed by society as “weird” or “dangerous”. They are afraid of being blamed for the illness, as if it is their fault. There is nothing “wrong” with you. You are not weak, crazy, dangerous or weird. You simply are experiencing and imbalance of emotions, brain chemicals, lifestyle or any combination of the three.
Mental health is affected by many risk factors so most mental health conditions have more than one cause. The more risk factors a person has, the greater likelihood of developing a mental health condition.
Risk Factors
Social Detriments of Health– financial instability education access and quality, access to quality health care, living conditions, neighborhood, and community.
Trauma– Recent or past life altering events
Genetics– for example, a person with a parent who has generalized anxiety disorder is 2-6x more likely to develop the disorder themselves.
Brain chemistry& Biology– having too little or too many brain chemicals or having sustained a brain injury that alters brain structure of chemical receptors.
Lifestyle & Habits– Poor sleep habits, eating poorly, little exercise, poor social interactions, prolonged high stress, excessive caffeine intake, illicit drug use, and excessive alcohol consumption can play a role in developing a mental illness.
Next Steps
If you think you are experiencing any form of mental health conditions, talk to your health care provider to have an evaluation performed and begin a treatment plan right away. If you need a provider who understands mental health, we at LFHC would be happy to talk with you and develop a plan of care that will help you get back to living your best life!