Mental Health
Mental health is the "a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community" [i].
However, when we talk about mental health, we often are referring to the conditions and behaviours that occur when our coping strategies fail; such as feeling sad or angry, depression, anxiety, panic, suicidal thoughts, self-harm, yelling, screaming, masking, and so on.
It is important to recognize that EVERYONE experiences mental health, and that EVERYONE has issues at some time or another.
State of Well-being
Mental health is a flowing 'state' of mind. One part of being 'well' is to acknowledge that mental health is a sense of 'being' well. It is an active experience in which our emotions, thoughts and behaviours play a core role.
Looking after yourself through self-care, mindfulness, exercise and getting good sleep are all important to maintaining a positive state of well-being.
Interested in learning more about mental health and emotions? Here's a good place to start:
Mental Health Conditions
Depression
Depression is a mood disorder that includes lack of motivation, lack of mental or physical energy, feelings of worthlessness, angry outbursts, and more[ii]. It can be caused by traumatic incidents that a person saw or experienced or by an imbalance of brain chemicals. Medications to correct chemical imbalances are available to those who can afford them, but because every brain is different, finding the right combination is a trial-and-error process.
Anxiety
Anxiety is a normal part of life, but some people experience it to such a degree that it becomes a diagnosable disorder. When worry consumes your life most days for a period of six months or more, it is called Generalized Anxiety Disorder ([iii] Other anxiety disorders come in the form of panic attacks and phobias. A wide variety of treatments are available for anxiety disorders, from talk therapy to medication.
Anger Issues
As with anxiety, anger is a normal part of life, but it can be harmful when misdirected or overly intense. Anger is not a disorder in itself, but it can be triggered by conditions such as depression and bipolar disorder. It is often among the first signs others notice that a person has a problem, since it is easy to notice anger directed at them. Anger has mental and physical symptoms and is generally regarded as unhealthy in the long run[iv]. It can be directed internally or externally, causing destruction wherever it is pointed. And fortunately, there are treatments for it as well.
Neurodivergent Concerns
If a person has one neurodivergence, it is common they will have multiple. This is known as 'coexisting conditions' or 'multimorbidity and patient complexity'[v]. When multiple issues present simultaneously, it can complicate potential treatments. Because these disorders are defined by symptoms (rather than tested for in a laboratory), a person can find themselves diagnosed with several conditions whose effects overlap, such as autism and ADHD.
The image below[vi] shows likelihoods of multiple diagnoses. As you can see, a neurodivergent person may struggle considerably with many conditions:
Mental health is an important and often-overlooked aspect of your overall health, and it should be looked after every bit as stringently as physical health, if not more so. This is especially important for neurodivergent people, who face additional challenges due to our misunderstood gifts. No matter your challenges, with the proper care, you can work wonders.
Article written by Josh Mitchell (4 July 2021; UPDATED JUL 6, 2021)
References:
[i] World Health Organization. Promoting mental health: concepts, emerging evidence, practice (Summary Report). Geneva: World Health Organization; 2004
[ii] Mayo Clinic Staff. (2021). Depression (major depressive disorder). Mayo Clinic. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/symptoms-causes/syc-20356007
[iii] National Institute of Mental Health. (2018). Anxiety Disorders. Retrieved from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/anxiety-disorders/
[iv] Santos-Longhurst, A. (2019). Do I Have Anger Issues? How to Identify and Treat an Angry Outlook. Healthline. Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/health/anger-issues
[v] Valderas, J. M., Starfield, B., Sibbald, B., Salisbury, C., & Roland, M. (2009). Defining comorbidity: implications for understanding health and health services. Annals of family medicine, 7(4), 357–363. https://doi.org/10.1370/afm.983
[vi] Kirby, A & Cleaton, M. (July, 2009), Neurodiversity 101: Co-occurrent Conditions. Do-It Profiler: Do-It International. Retrieved from https://doitprofiler.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2019%2F07%2FND101-What-is-co-occurrence-and-why-important.pdf