How individuals cope with mental health problems

People find coping methods in any way that they can when they have a mental health condition; these can be positive or negative and are highly dependent on the individual.

Positive ways of dealing with a mental health problem include:

Self-care

Self-care refers to how someone can cope with their mental illness by taking an active role in their own well-being. For example, they may regularly speak with someone about their condition who is not necessarily a health professional but is just someone who provides a ‘caring ear’ for them to sit and discuss how they are currently feeling. Simply knowing that they have someone who they can turn to for support in this manner can be hugely beneficial for anyone with a mental health condition.

Self-care may also come in the form of someone becoming more socially active and keeping themselves busy, so they may take up a hobby or try and go out with people on a more frequent basis. This not only helps to make social circles larger but it gives value and meaning to people’s lives and gives them something to look forward to with the reassurance that they are still in control of how much social interaction they have. Exercise is a particularly good way of maintaining a pastime because it also helps burn off any excess energy, which may otherwise remain and manifest itself as anxiety or panic.

Eating healthily is a method of self-care that is not only good for mental health but also for physical health as well. A good diet that is balanced and full of nutrients boosts energy levels and gives individuals an overall feeling of better well-being.

Finally, some individuals find that having a routine helps them to focus on their day and also having a ‘mood diary’ helps them identify predictors for times when they are feeling better or worse than others so that they can prepare for this beforehand. For example, if someone knows that they have to get the bus for a doctor’s appointment, their diary may indicate that on those days they feel more anxious than others. Identifying this helps them prepare for that day so that the anxiety is not as overwhelming as it might otherwise have been.

Treatment and support

This can come in many forms, with lots of individuals automatically thinking of medication as a primary method of dealing with mental illness. Whilst this is an option, there are others that can give a more beneficial, holistic way of coping with mental illness.

Medication

Medication can be useful because it often lets an individual’s symptoms stabilise so that they can then be treated by another method as well as or instead of just drugs. The usual forms of medication that treat mental illness include antipsychotic, antidepressant and mood stabilising drugs. These all work on the brain in a different way but, ultimately, they will be prescribed with the same aim, which will be to reduce the symptoms of the mental illness.

Therapy

Another form of treatment for mental illness is some form of therapy. Just like medication, this comes in different forms but with the ultimate aim of bringing value and meaning back to someone’s life. Types of therapy that may be used to treat mental illness include:

• Cognitive behavioural therapy – With this type of therapy, the individual will be encouraged to look at how they think about and perceive situations in the hope that they can be ‘reprogrammed’ to think differently, which may have a positive effect on mood and anxiety levels.
• Person-centred counselling – This is most useful for people who have mild mental health issues because there will be an assumption that those who attend this kind of counselling will be guided by the therapist and not simply told what to do. This type of counselling gives individuals the opportunity to discuss their problems and fears in a non-judgemental environment with the hope that they will be able to see a solution for themselves, which can be very empowering and, as such, raise levels of confidence and self-esteem.
• Mindfulness –This is a technique which can help people to manage their mental health issues and can also give them a better feeling of overall well-being. It is similar to meditation in that it encourages individuals to closely focus on what is happening at the present moment so that they become more aware of their thoughts and feelings and so learn to cope with them in a more positive manner.