Mental Health PSA

Malachi Haynes

SLS-1106

 Mental Health PSA

 

    Mental health is rapidly becoming a serious concern within the us, and can no longer be ignored. Anxiety, for an example, is a particularly damaging mental health concern in today's society. Managing it can truly be a matter of life or death.

 

    Anxiety can causes sleep loss.

    One of the reason why anxiety can be so threatening is the loss of sleep factor. Everyone is familiar with how devastating lack of sleep is. Trucking through the day with 4 hours of sleep is more than miserable.  Not only is it very despairing, but it also causes increased anxiety levels.

 

    Anxiety can get worse over time.

    Anxiety usually doesn't just "go away." Treatment for anxiety is very specific, and a serious thing to consider. Left untreated, it could become more serious as time goes on. Possible taking years off the victims life.

 

    Those who suffer feel as if they can't control their reactions.

    Anxiety heavily influences the emotions of those who suffer from it. Often times making situations seem much more important and larger than they are. Leading people to make rash and impulsive decisions they may come to regret.

 

    Anxiety disorders affect 3% of the population.

    General anxiety disorders affect 3% of the U.S. population. That's over 10 million people, not including those who haven't been diagnosed with a disorder. You may be more at risk than you think, anxiety disorders can affect all types of people.

 

    The cause of anxiety is generally unknown. 

    Unfortunately, the reasons people gain anxiety disorders is generally unknown. It's a very complicated subject, with lots of research needed on the brain before we can fully understand anxiety.

 

    Anxiety affects every area of the wellness wheel, making everyday a challenge. Anxiety can encompass a vast range of subjects. Often affecting the financial and emotional areas the most, which in turn affects the physical area as well. 

    Anxiety causes deadly stress, making those who suffer believe they have no control over what happens in their life. Anxiety makes problems seem impossible to overcome. Anxiety also affects emotional stability.

    Anxiety can also be a heavy weight when it comes to the financial side of life for the emotional reasons listed. Those who suffer from financial anxiety often feel as if their life is under constant pressure, lacking confidence that they'll have enough money to survive another day. 

    Lack of sleep and emotional processing can cause physical issue such as weight loss or under eating. The more the emotional area is affecting, the more lacking the physical area suffers in conjunction.

 

    However there are luckily known ways to manage anxiety, so don't let these facts make you feel anxious. 

    Exercise improves not just the body, but the mind as well. Physical exercise has been known to improve the mental health of those who engage, and lessens the effects of anxiety in the long term.  Good, consistent exercise can help you feel happy and healthy.

    Breathing techniques can be used for more "in the moment" management. Controlled breathing, such as timing your breaths, can help reduce stress and anxiety you may feel in the moment. Helping with those anxiety attacks we can all suffer from at times.

 

    The "National Alliance on Mental Illness" is an organization looking to make change not only for those who suffer from anxiety, but those who suffer from all forms of mental health. Since the 1980's they've helped to educate the public on mental health issues, set up support groups for those who feel alone in their struggles, push for government policies in favor of mental health, host events to spread awareness on the topic, and support individuals who may be personally suffering.

    The "NAMI" is based in Virginia, but has influence spanning over the entire U.S. with their multiple locations.

    https://www.nami.org/contact-us/ 

 

 

 

 Resources

 

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/anxiety/symptoms-causes/syc-20350961

https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/anxiety-disorders 

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9536-anxiety-disorders 

https://medlineplus.gov/anxiety.html