It’s time to check in on your friends and family who have mental illness, and this is why.
I am not an introvert by nature, but believed to be so due to social anxiety, and I am now finding myself in a greater need of a sense of connection and support as the stress and separation we may all be feeling triggers symptoms of my mental illness that could have a devastating effect for many.
I have been living with anxiety, depression and paranoid schizophrenia for over 23 years. I have worked in mental health as a mentor, but now find myself incredibly isolated as friends are overwhelmed with their own losses and my ability to manage my illness is under pressure.
When under stress, some people get headaches or may respond in a physical way. When I’m under stress, my body’s natural response is to feel a greater amount of psychological symptoms — increased anxiety, depression and/or psychotic symptoms. I typically have good insight and coping skills but, despite this, feelings of isolation and concerns with my physical health, let alone the state of our world, left me with thoughts of suicidal ideation recently.
People who experience depression (or are currently showing signs of depression) are at a much higher vulnerability for suicide now. Even if you cannot relate to mental illness, but know someone who experiences it, it’s time to drop the stigma and pick up the phone.
Reaching out to someone struggling with mental illness eases stress and, because my symptoms are stress related, feeling cared about and being heard helps to calm my symptoms.
When someone is depressed and/or suicidal, simply being heard is extremely helpful and by allowing people a safe space to confide how they are feeling, you can help save a life.
Liz Felt, Salt Lake City