6 mental health myths debunked by psychologists

when we think of Psychological health, we have to understand that we are dealing with a state of well-being, in which a person is able to use his own skills, to cope with the pressures of everyday life, to be productive and to be able to contribute in various ways to his society. . And just to be clear, this is the definition he gave World Health Organization (Who is the).

However, there are still many myths, rumors and lies around Psychological health, which not only undermines care for an essential worker for each individual, but also creates barriers to appropriate care. We dismantle some of these myths, based on information from researchers, psychologists, and leading subject matter professionals. paying off!

1. People with schizophrenia do not have multiple personalities

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The myth, unfortunately, is very widespread, that people with schizophrenia necessarily have multiple personalities. In fact, psychology and psychiatry have understood it this way for a long time, but research and clinical studies have proven that this is not true.

Those diagnosed with schizophrenia, unlike the other personality, have a rupture with reality (known as psychosis), hallucinations (such as hearing voices), and false beliefs (delusions), among other symptoms. It is a condition that affects about 1% of the world’s population.

2. Not every “obsession” is OCD

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You must have heard, or even told someone who has a habit of excessive cleaning, that they suffer from OCD, which is an acronym for “obsessive-compulsive disorder.” However, most of us worry about cleanliness, which has nothing to do with OCD. The same can be said about those who have the habit of organizing.

It is essential to be aware of this, as it is a myth, as OCD has completely different symptoms, although keeping things organized and clean is among them. To be described as obsessive-compulsive disorder, in addition to the professional diagnosis, the individual would be someone who would think about his obsession all the time, to the point of consuming his own existence.

3. Bipolar disorder is more than just mood swings

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Another myth that needs to be dismantled is the person who believes that bipolar disorder It is characterized by minor mood swings. In fact, it’s a very high positive mood boost and a very low negative mood drop.

Keep in mind that mood swings are normal for humans, we all have them. Bipolarity is much more than that, as it involves severe forms of euphoria and depression, episodes of mania (impulsiveness, psychosis, etc.) or mixed (delusions, anxiety, thought disorder, flight of thoughts, etc.).

4. Men also suffer from depression

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For many years, structural masculinity has made depression a mental illness that affects only women. This has nothing to do with reality.

Women are more likely to suffer from depressionThey also often carry the habit of expressing their feelings, consulting therapists and paying attention to their mental health.

About the higher rate among women (10% to 25%) than in men (5% to 12%), there is a sum of social and biological factors that explain this. Hormones are definitely in the equation, but longer work hours, for example, are too.

5. Antidepressants don’t change your personality

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Any medication intended for the treatment of mental health must be prescribed by a psychiatrist, and you can take it without fear, as your personality will not change with the use of a prescribed medication. What they’ll do for your health is make sure you get back to your baseline, regulating symptoms of depression and anxiety, for example.

Another important detail: No medication will cure your depression, and the most effective way to progress toward treatment is a combination of medication and therapy. Including, not everyone undergoing treatment necessarily needs medication. Take care of your mental health.