As it’s Mental Health Awareness Week, Kim talks bravely about the particular issues facing her, and mental health stereotypes.

There is such a big stigma around this subject because a lot of people don’t understand it.

There is such a big stigma around this subject because a lot of people don’t understand it.

Mental health is a wide range of conditions/disorders that affect mood, thinking and behaviour. Many people have mental health concerns from time to time.

The major types of mental health illnesses are depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, bipolar, personality disorders and eating disorders. The most common is depression and anxiety. It is estimated that one in four people in the UK are experiencing mental health problems every year. No matter your age, sex or religion, mental health effects everyone but is rapidly growing in young people.

A mental health illness can be just as bad, if not worse than a physical illness only you can’t see it. Some people think that if you have a mental illness, you’re violent but this is not true, it’s a stereotype.  With mental illnesses comes different types of feelings and behavior such as panic attacks, self-harming or suicidal feelings. There isn’t just one particular cause, there are many that can trigger mental illness.

I can’t go to crowded or new places without having an anxiety attack.

I suffer from depression, anxiety, emotional instability (personality disorder) and psychosis symptoms (hearing voices, seeing things and feelings things touch me). It affects me every day and stops me living a normal life. I can’t go to crowded or new places without having an anxiety attack. My chest gets tight, I get heart palpitations and I shake. My moods are never the same and change so fast it’s like a switch has been flicked inside me. I have no control over my emotions and find it difficult to deal with them. I get scared of going out in case something triggers my psychosis and makes the symptoms worse that I end up having a psychotic breakdown. Right now my life is being controlled by my mental health but I’m in therapy to try and help me.

There are a range of treatments for mental health such as, talking therapies, art therapy or sometimes medication is needed.

Understand mental health and you’ll be helping to end the stigma around the subject.

So let’s talk about mental health. Chat with us over at @rifemag

If you’ve got any more questions about mental health, you can find out more from Off The Record on the Rife Guide.

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About the author

Kim Watkins

I'm a writer. I have my own blog and enjoy creative writing on real life stories. I love taking selfies and I'm currently in college inspiring to become a journalist and teacher. I moved here to Bristol from sunny Girvan in Scotland. You'll always find me with a book in my hand.