You heard me right. It's not just a personal trial of dealing with anxiety as an individual. It's also overcoming the prejudices that comes from the already chaotic world. The noisy world has many different perspectives for individuals with anxious minds.
Such prejudices doesn't serve the anxiety patients any good, nor does it help them to integrate back to the society.
It's saddening to see the advances in technologies, medical field and integration of several campaigns that wasn't heard of from the olden days yet many people still have little to no knowledge of mental health wellness.
As a (friend/ co-worker/ acquaintance/ family/ significant other) of an mentally unwell individual, it can sometimes be confusing and difficult to give the care that the individual needs. However, if you really care for the person, you will shower them with love and respect.
How would you feel if you had a fever and I responded with "it's okay don't think too much, you are delusional and just sleep it away?"
Did you know that according to an online article, people with mental health issues are not thinking too much but their brain is "having a fever" aka certain chemicals are lacking or not functioning well as it should have been.
Then why would you think that the patient itself is just thinking too much and sleeping away can make things better?
When someone caught a cold or is running a high fever, one would routinely just visit a doctor to get some medication to feel better. Then why, when someone who has anxiety would be judged and penalized by the general public when he/she fails to perform daily activities or even visit the psychiatrist for help?
A close friend shared with me her recent encounter with a neighborhood GP who just so happened to be the relief doctor for the doctor whom she has always been seeing for the past few years. It was the first time she saw this relief doctor and it was quite an awful experience for her. She had anxiety since her teenager years and recently had a relapse due to her work. She couldn't leave her house as she was very anxious and her medications had been wiped off a month ago. The condition worsened as she started the new job which took a toll on her mental and physical health. It wasn't easy especially when she was the sole breadwinner of her family, with two young children to care for.
So it was really a difficult phase of time for her and so when the relief doctor responded to her request of having MC so that she can rest at home and not further be exposed to the workplace that has worsened her mental wellness. However, to her disbelief, the relief doctor merely brushed her off by saying that there are many psychiatrists and mental health institutions that she can seek help from. She was daunted by what she has heard. To make the situation worse, the doctor then impatiently told my friend to hurry up as she has many patients to see after her.
When I came to know this story from my friend, I was feeling very sorry for her, as I could understand her concerns and struggles. Sometimes, all you need is to be kind and a little sensitive to the people you encounter. Because you really don't know what they are going through in their personal lives. I'm not trying to judge the relief doctor's actions and words. I was just frustrated and disappointed in her way of handling the situation. I believe that as a healthcare professional, it's only deemed as ethical and responsible for her to show empathy instead of throwing words around that ain't doing good to anyone. At that moment, my friend shared with me that she was in despair and she pondered over the situation for the next few days.
Thoughts of suicidal came to her mind very frequently. She disclosed to me that she had a terrible meltdown two days later when she was conversing with her parent. She was pouring out her heart and soul crying her lungs out.. She asked when will Jesus come pick her up?
Please be gentle. The world has a lot of troubles, everyone is really just trying to make it everyday. You really have no idea how being merciful and kind can change someone's day.
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