Mental illnesses

Hi guys, I'm back.

So weeks ago I asked my readers to suggest topics they'd want me to write about, Eniola came up with "mental illnesses" and I liked it. Shout out to you Eniola. (I got some others that'll do later).

Mental illnesses are also known as mental disorders, Psychiatric disorder, psychological disorder, mental disease, mental breakdown, nervous breakdown or mental health conditions. 

I might use these words interchangeably in the course of this post (well except psychiatric disorder, I'm too Yoruba to be using that word anyhow). 

I'm about 200% sure that the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear mental illness or mental disorder is depression. Like if someone said a person has a mental illness you'd probably say "ah won nipe o wa depressed". Well I won't really blame you for that. Depression is the most known mental disorder. 

According to the  World health organization, "mental disorders comprise a broad range of problems, with different symptoms. However, they are generally characterized by some combination of abnormal thoughts, emotions, behaviour and relationships with others. Examples are schizophrenia, depression, intellectual disabilities due to drug abuse. Most of these disorders can be successfully treated". So you see?. Not just depression. 

Some other mental disorders are: Anxiety disorders, including panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and phobias. Bipolar disorder, and other mood disorders. Eating disorders. Personality disorders. Post-traumatic stress disorder. Psychotic disorders. 

According to research 50% of all lifetime mental illness begins by age 14, and 75% by age of 24. So no! kids aren't exempted, it's not an adult thingy. Mental illnesses are also not "rich man issue", it's no respecter of social status, age, gender, religion, culture or any other classifications. 

Mental illnesses could be inherited (I found this really crazy too), caused by exposure to stress, toxins, alcohol and drugs in the womb could also lead to mental illnesses. And impaired neural networks in the brain. 

Mental illnesses could also induce physical pains too such as stomach pain, back pain, headaches, or other unexplained aches and pains (such a bitch). 

Now I planned to interview a psychiatrist for this post so I'd get a professional view but egbon was taking too much time and I had to put this out. Rather I interviewed my friend that has bipolar disorder and was in a mental hospital for a month or so during the lock down period. (not as deep but at least you're reading it this year). 

I'd of course be keeping him anonymous, he'd go by X in the story (X is cliché I know, but when you have your own blog you can goan be flexing muscle there). 

But first things first, a definition:

Bipolar disorder, formerly called manic depression, is a mental health condition that causes extreme mood swings that include emotional highs (mania or hypomania) and lows (depression).

X first started seeing signs of bipolar disorder when he was 14(of course he didn't know what it was). His first "recorded" experience was a large mood swing and he felt so down he had to call his mom (he was in a boarding school),several minutes later he felt so happy he was running on the field (he never did that before).

X started to have change in moods after that first experience but didn't pay attention to many or was maybe too young and uninformed to know what was going on(in my opinion early education is important). One time he felt so down he told his mom he has low self-esteem, she replied "Omo Olorun o kin ni low self-esteem".(Typical Yoruba mom na). You see I think psychological disorders aren't given so much importance as other medical conditions because they can't always be seen causing damage, they can be masked up with a smile, people suffering from them aren't necessarily seen going through any physical pain so "meh it can't be that serious".

"... in my opinion early education is important…"

Fast forward to after secondary he apparently became more aware of his mental. He experimented with drugs (which he feels might have triggered something). X will run through weed, depressants and one time even Colorado (he doesn't have fun memories of Colorado, AT ALL). He got extremely rebellious moods(he said in these moments he feels like he can do anything) and one time he went to computer village, sold his PS3, his dad's tab, emptied his account and ran away from home, he spent the money on food, weed, strip club and all sort.

After about a week the "mood" wore off and he wasn't even leaving the room he rented at all (I mean at all, dude wasn't even having his bath). His parents tracked him down later and took him home (he claims these acts aren't particularly fully controlled by him or subjected to much thinking and he doesn't realize anything is off till that particular "mood" has worn off). He started to "medicate" with the drugs he knew about. 

X went on to do a whole lot of other unreasonable things. His parents got stricter, cut his allowance, monitored his movements but didn't know what exactly he needed. And no! doping wasn't the best coping mechanism (J. Cole has 2 hours to respond to the rhyme). Soon he got an "epiphany" he started to cook weed in his food rather than smoking it to get more subtle, before long it stopped being effective and he was stuck. 

"...doping wasn't the best coping mechanism..."

On one of X's "episodes", X began to lose interest in a lot of things, didn't want to go to class, talk to people, he literally wasn't leaving his dorm room at all, it lasted about 4 weeks. 

During the lockdown period it hit again and he knew he couldn't run anymore, he told his parents and luckily for X, he could get help. Therapy and some pills at the mental hospital for about a month and he's all good now. 

I had a discussion with one of my guys at the gym recently and he insisted bipolar disorder isn't anything serious and people just paint it to be a big deal.

Yes Mr mugu it's a big deal, MENTAL DISORDER IS A BIG DEAL. The most important thing is to get help, there's nothing to be ashamed of. If you had malaria you'd see the doctor and take pills or whatever the doctor has for you, treat this with the same energy. 

"...The most important thing is to get help, there's nothing to be ashamed of… "

My deduction is that the mood changes had him doing extreme things he won't usually do without appearing weird to him in the moment, then leave him. And some other times it hits and he doesn't have the will to do anything. 

If I got my interview with the psychiatrist I'd probably have a link directing you to a psychiatrist in case you suspect you have a mental illness or know someone who does. You can hit me up if you do though, we'd reach someone. It was wonderful sharing this with you guys though. I feel so smart now.