How to open up about mental illness

At any given time, 1 in 5 Americans are dealing with a mental illness. This may be a temporary form of illness, such as situational anxiety, or it may be complex and ongoing such as being bi-polar. Yet no matter what the mental health issue is, most of those suffering do not talk about it.

This is for good reason. Mental illness was once considered a taboo subject, and those who suffered from it were looked down on. Mental health problems were to be hushed up and swept under the rug, and many people failed to get treatment because of that.

In recent years however, mental health has become an important topic. If you're struggling with mental illness, here are some important steps to take.

Admit the problem to yourself

It's not just others that you need to open up to. Sometimes, it's hard to admit you have a mental health problem even if it's only to yourself. Before you can open up to others about your mental health issue, it's important to first be open with yourself.

This may be especially difficult if it is a sensitive topic, such as postpartum depression. By coming to terms with your mental health, you'll be better able to talk about it with others.

Open up to a therapist

Perhaps the first person you should speak with about a mental health issue is a therapist. Therapy is a wonderful way to help you cope with mental illness, better understand yourself, and reach out to another person who you know will respond appropriately.

Open up to trusted individuals

Obviously, you don't want to talk about mental health issues to a toxic friend who you know will use it against you. When you're ready to talk about your mental health with someone else, choose someone you trust above all others, and who you know will be accepting of your mental health.

Talking about mental health is important on many different levels, both as a form of therapy for yourself, and to help bring more attention to this hidden illness that effects so many people.

Don't ignore mental health signals in others

As you become more aware of and talk about your own mental health, you may notice mental health problems cropping up in others. Do not ignore attention seeking behaviors in others. If you think someone will self harm or other dangerous behaviors such as suicide, talk with them and try to offer help. 

Mental health is very important. It's also important to keep the conversation about it alive, so more people become aware of mental health and its importance. By opening up a path to communication, you can not only help yourself feel better about your mental health, you can help others too. Even if all you do is make someone more aware of the role mental health plays in the world, you have done something constructive for the world. That can only be a good thing.