Mental Health and What People Get Wrong

Of course, stigma is a big issue when it comes to mental health, but another one that is

perhaps just as important is misunderstanding. What I mean is that a lot of people don't hold

stigma towards mental health, and they want to be supportive, but theyre too absorbed in myths

regarding it, which makes it harder for them to recognize their own struggle or get help. One

common myth is that mental health or seeking help in general is only important when one is in

crisis. If you are still showing up to work or to class and answering your emails, you are fine,

right?

Mental health isn't a light switch that turns off when you are in a crisis. Many people

struggle quietly for a long time, sometimes without even knowing what exactly is wrong or what

they should do about it, or even if they should do anything about it. This is especially common

among students who feel like they simply have to push through their stress, anxiety,or emotional

exhaustion because they think it doesn't count unless it's extreme.

Another misconception about mental health is that it is just about attitude. Sometimes

you'll hear things like when someone is talking about mental, and they will be like… You just

have to think positively, distract yourself, and be grateful…as if those are the end-all and be-all

when it comes to being on the brink of mental fallout. These phrases come from people who are

supportive, who want to help, who think mental health is important, and yet they think that

distress can be solved through simple choices. Mental health isn't just about choices; it's about

thoughts, emotions, relationships, stress levels, sleep, biology, environment, and life history. It’s

not solved by willpower alone. And this isn't me saying that your friend who tells you these

things is an idiot or shouldn't be trusted; it's more about showing people that more than just

choice matters here.

One factor that makes things more complicated is that people think that therapy is only

for crises or that therapy means something is broken with you, even if they do believe that

mental health is important. Therapy is less about putting together a broken puzzle and much

more about learning coping mechanisms, skills, understanding patterns, and, perhaps most

importantly, creating a connection in a way where one can share their experiences in a safe and

open manner, no matter how minuscule they might think they are. Coming to therapy when you

have these “minor” issues can help you unpack them and understand them before they turn out

to be much worse than just feeling sadness or feeling tired. So you don't need to be close to a

breaking point to deserve support; you are welcome whenever you would like.