It’s not unusual to experience episodes of being physically unwell. We all have our good days and we all have our bad days. And there are various degrees of illness just as there are varying degrees of wellness.
Physical ill-health can result from many and varied factors and not every one of them is immediately obvious. Sometimes we know why we are feeling off colour. Sometimes we need the assistance of those in the medical field to pinpoint the cause. Once we know what the problem is we can work on strategies to remedy or cure it. That much is expected and accepted.
Matters mental are approached in a different manner. Mental ill-health and mental illness can be confused. For that reason, many people go to great pains to avoid the issue altogether.
Mental illnesses are defined as complex mental health challenges that are at odds with what we expect in the pursuit of everyday life.
It’s the confusion between the definition of mental illness and mental ill-health that can be particularly damaging. If we are not feeling right in our body we will seek the help of the medical profession. However there’s a reluctance to seek professional help if the problem is in our head.
Surveys have shown that nearly half of all Australians will have a mental illness in their lifetime. Illness is the extreme. Bouts of mental ill-health are commonplace.
Just as we should not ignore physical symptoms, we should be aware of our own mental state.
The sooner restorative action and repair begins, the better.
Gary Bentley Counselling 