There was a time when mental illnesses were hardly recognised, let alone treated. An individual suffering from an issue was deemed insane, or worse, possessed by ghosts. Times have changed, and so have these perceptions. Still, in many countries, people believe these myths and misconceptions.
This usually happens in developing countries. However, there are some people living in advanced regions, like UAE, who also tend to have such perceptions. For instance, many people are reluctant when it comes to visiting a clinical psychologist in Dubai as they believe there’s no such thing as depression or other illnesses.
That being said, let’s take a look at some commonly believed psychiatry myths, misconceptions and perceptions and debunk them:
1. Mental health disorders are uncommon.
Not many people know about the fact that mental health issues are quite common. As a matter of fact, every one individual out of five in the USA has suffered/is suffering from a mental health problem. Statistics also who that one in every 10 young individuals has experienced major depression for a particular period. Furthermore, out of 25 Americans, at least one suffers from a serious mental health disease, such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or major depression.
The myth that mental health disorders are uncommon and do not affect many is believed due to the lack of awareness among people. Since a lot of people do not know how to identify these issues, they don’t believe these issues actually exist. This is one of the major reasons why many people still live with these diseases without knowing that even knowing that they suffer from a mental health issue. This is certainly an alarming sign.
2. People with mental health issues cannot work.
This can be true in some cases when the illness is quite serious and inhibits their ability to think rationally. However, in the cases of most mental health issues, one can continue their job without any major issues.
3. Psychiatry medicines can change your personality.
This is another commonly believed myth about mental health disorders. Psychiatrist doctors often prescribe medications to patients, depending on the disorder they suffer from. However, some people refuse to take these meds as they believe these pills will change their personalities.
The reality is that psychiatry medicines cannot change who you are. They can, of course, help eliminate the negativity and anti-social behaviour you may have developed due to your illness. This, too, can be considered a change in personality, but a positive and more welcoming one.
4. A heart to heart talk with your friend can treat mental health issues.
It can surely help but not completely treat your mental health issue. You may feel better for a while, but the negativity will come back after a while, and you will be back at square one – feeling depressed.
Not many know that there’s a huge difference between speaking with friends and structured therapies. The latter involves a properly structured approach tailored specifically to treat individual patients, depending on the issue they suffer from and its severity.
5. Schizophrenia patients have dual personalities.
Schizophrenia is one of the common mental health disorders, thanks to mainstream media. Many movies and TV series have shown people suffering from this disease. But unfortunately, most of them portray it in the wrong manner. It is usually shown that patients schizophrenics have multiple personalities, one’s a saint, while the other is a murderer. This, however, is nothing more than a myth. Schizophrenia is basically a disease in which a person loses a sense of self, behaviour and perception. This can result in delusions and hallucinations. This condition is diagnosed by a professional and experienced psychiatrist.
6. Mental health issues are not prevalent among children.
It is another commonly believed myth that mental health issues are not prevalent among children. However, the reality is quite the opposite. Children are also prone to suffering from such issues. If you observe them closely, you can notice some early signs of mental health disorders in them. However, it’s recommended to take them to one of the most experienced psychiatrist doctors in Dubai, of course, if you live in this emirate, as soon as you notice these signs. The sooner the issue is identified, the more effective the treatment will be.
What’s commonly believed for schizophrenia actually closely resembles dissociative identity disorder. This is a disease in which a person may have more than one personality.
There you have it! We hope that any confusion that you may have regarding mental health disorders is cleared now.
