Overcoming Mental Illness – Is It a Fool’s Errand?

“Overcoming mental illness is impossible!” someone told 22-year-old Kira who was recently diagnosed with OCD, right at the cusp of her youth. For someone who is clinically obsessed with having everything in the right order, the internal disorder disheartened her. She can fix how the room looks but what about her head? She always thought that the wires in her head needed to be arranged but she was constantly told that she couldn’t do it, that it simply COULDN’T BE DONE!

If you are like Kira and find it hard to accept that this illness plaguing your mind is something you have to live with for the rest of your life, then you’ve come to the right place. As bleak as all beginnings tend to be, we at Kofuku can promise that despite everything there will always be a tunnel instead of the dead-end it seems to be from here.

The first step? Find out how “impossible” this whole mental illness business really is!

The idea that mental illness is an unbeatable foe is a tiny myth. Tiny because it’s also a bit true. Of course, with less severity and quicker diagnosis, it becomes easier to get some early treatment benefits. That doesn't mean it should be taken lightly. Our emotional health is oftentimes as important as physical health. And like a boogeyman, just because you hide under the blanket doesn't mean it stops existing.

Gentle baseless platitudes can only take you so far with your illness actively making things hard for you. So, If it's the truth you seek, then it’s time to take off the blanket and face your boogeyman.

That being said, we do admit this whole "mental illness is a life sentence" thing can feel pretty heavy. It's like being stuck with a grumpy roommate forever who leaves used dishes everywhere and refuses to do chores. But what you can do with the right approach is, you can learn to manage it and make a space for yourself where everyone (including you!) can thrive. Think of it as the tunnel with working lights but no switch in sight.

Your next step? Finding the switch!

You don't have to be an electrician to find a switch but basic knowledge of how it works can do absolute wonders.

That is why understanding how the brain works under the illness is important. Our amazing brain is like intricate electrical grids themselves, constantly buzzing with activity. Billions of nerve cells, called neurons, fire messages back and forth using fancy chemicals called neurotransmitters. All this work just to keep us thinking, feeling, and functioning.

Research suggests that disruptions in this crazy system can contribute to mental health conditions. Here are a few ways this might happen:

Neurotransmitter imbalances:

As they are the messengers carrying information between neurons, in some cases of mental illness, there might be too much or too little of certain neurotransmitters, leading to problems with mood, thinking, or behaviour. For example, low levels of serotonin are often linked to depression.

Brain structure changes:

Studies of MRIs have shown that some mental illnesses might be associated with differences in the size or shape of certain brain regions, making it greatly affect how information is processed.

Brain circuits:

When the connections between different brain regions are weaker or malfunctioning, it can disrupt communication and lead to symptoms like anxiety or difficulty concentrating.

There are heavy chances that you can be born with mental illnesses but there is an equal potential for getting one later on in your life as well.

As unfair as it is, it’s the most normal thing - to be predisposed to something and grow up to be something else.

We've talked about the brain, but what about the other side of the coin – our environment? The age-old debate of nature versus nurture plays a significant role in mental illness. For example, recent studies on epigenetic modification, posit that a trigger factor of sorts can be passed down through genes while not being part of the DNA sequence. Meaning, a mother with PTSD can pass on a sliver of it through genes with the child still being none the wiser if the environment doesn’t ever trigger it.

The Blueprint

Genes are thousands of years of learned survival instinct packed into a neat little form, ready to be passed onto another. That does make it possible that some genes might increase your susceptibility to certain mental illnesses. This doesn't mean you'll automatically be born with it, but it can act as a risk factor.

Because contrary to popular belief, no one is a mirror image of their parents. But they do share images like a trick of the light or a smile that looks exactly like their father at a certain angle. Life experiences can play a big part in whether a genetic predisposition manifests at all.

From the moment we're born, our surroundings shape how our brains develop and function. There are several things that a young impressionable mind can latch onto. Here are some ways the environment can influence mental health:

• Early Childhood Experiences: A 2020 research paper found an association between unhealed childhood trauma and mental illnesses later in life. Even neglect, or abuse in childhood can have a lasting impact on brain development and increase the risk. Conversely, a supportive and loving environment can be a protective factor.

• Stressful Life Events: Chronic stress, like dealing with poverty, violence, or relationship problems, can disrupt brain chemistry and contribute to anxiety or depression.

• Substance Abuse: Drugs and alcohol can alter brain function and worsen symptoms of mental illness.

You should also remember that nature and nurture don't work in isolation. Think of it like this: having a genetic predisposition to a mental illness is like having a higher chance of getting a cold. But your lifestyle choices, like getting enough sleep and washing your hands, may make way for a significant improvement possible where there would be none if left unattended.

Similarly, even if you have a genetic risk factor, a healthy lifestyle and access to support systems can help you manage and overcome its most adverse effects, giving you the respite to be a functioning part of society.

It’s all been leading up to this. But first, you have to stop thinking about mental illness as a disease and so naturally it must be curable. Like many chronic health conditions like diabetes, you learn to manage it. This is why accepting it as something close to a disability should be your next move - the boogeyman you need to face head-on. Then comes the more practical steps.

Just like someone with a physical disability might use a wheelchair, you might need tools to manage your mental health. Therapy, medication, healthy habits, and strong support systems are a good starting point.

You get to define what "accessible" means for you. So setting boundaries at work, taking breaks when you're feeling overwhelmed, or using coping techniques to manage stress can work out. Don't be afraid to experiment and find what works best for you even if you get your diagnosis later in life! Practising to be more yourself is what makes a significant improvement possible at all.

In the same vein, needing accommodations isn't a sign of weakness. For example, you might need extra time on a test due to your ADHD making it harder to focus or a quiet space for breaks during an anxiety-provoking meeting. The 2017 Mental Health Act is merely the beginning of what can be done, as we are still in the stages of reaching the bare minimum. With more awareness and exposure, India too can accommodate all forms of disabilities and destroy the stigma surrounding them to be an equal-opportunity nation.

Living with a mental illness can be challenging, but it doesn't define you at all. By learning to manage your condition, creating an accessible life, and advocating for your needs, you can live a fulfilling life even with all its ups and downs. Which soundly proves the statement, Overcoming mental illness is impossible - False.