Holidays, Mental Health, and You

HOLIDAYS, MENTAL HEALTH, AND YOU by Alfreda

(NOTE: This was an article I had written for Raynbow Affair Magazine, www.raynbowaffair.com)

The holiday season is once again upon us: good music, festivities, family time, and hectic schedules and deadlines surround us. The holidays can also be a time of reflection: being thankful for life, health, and/or a religious figure; a time for finding and renewing purpose and promises to ourselves, others, and a higher calling/God. Sadly, the holidays can also mean a period of painful memories, lived and relived. Whether it is because of something from the past or because of some recent event, some suffer through mental illness, including, but not limited to, depression and suicidal ideations. The lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community, as well as the music industry, are not excluded from the reality of mental illness.

Here are some important facts about mental illness: about 26%, or 1 in 4, Americans suffer from some form of mental illness (Bostwick, 2007). It is suggested that the LGBT community may be at a higher risk (2.5 times more likely) of having depression, anxiety, and substance abuse disorders than heterosexuals. Gay and bisexual men are more likely to have major depression and panic disorder; lesbian and gay women are more likely to experience generalized anxiety disorder. Twenty percent (20%) of lesbian and bisexual women, and 25% of gay and bisexual men, have experienced some form of verbal or physical violent act due to orientation, which can lead to depression or other illnesses. Many may also internalize negativity and stereotypes of mental illness and homosexuality, also making it difficult to treat mental illness.

When it comes to being gay and having mental illness, many suffer unnecessarily because of others' insensitivity, ignorance, bigotry, and stereotypical feel: the medical profession, many of whom thought that being gay was a mental illness until that was debunked by the American Psychological Association; family, friends, and/or religious organizations that tend to distance themselves; law enforcement; and those in the music industry, who, in trying to stay relevant or take the spotlight off of them, try to shame those who suffer from mental illness (Miley Cyrus tweeting out cries for help by Sinead O'Connor, who suffers from bipolar disorder, Wyatt, 2013). What can be done to bring awareness to mental health that is inclusive but broad, especially for the LGBT community, and particularly during the holiday season? One, please know that there is help and hope. If you or someone you know is dealing with a mental illness, then have them seek help, or ask questions. Below are some numbers of organizations that may be able to lead you to help or answer questions.

Two, know or recognize potential symptoms and signs of mental illness, which the Mayo Clinic (2014) lists as:

• Feeling sad or down;
• Confused thinking or reduced ability to concentrate;
• Excessive fears or worries, or extreme feelings of guilt;
• Extreme mood changes of highs and lows;
• Withdrawal from friends and activities;
• Significant tiredness, low energy or problems sleeping;
• Detachment from reality (delusions), paranoia or hallucinations;
• Inability to cope with daily problems or stress;
• Trouble understanding and relating to situations and to people;
• Alcohol or drug abuse;
• Major changes in eating habits;
• Sex drive changes;
• Excessive anger, hostility or violence; and
• Suicidal thinking.

This is important to being properly diagnosed and finding the right treatment plan (medication, therapy, or something as simple as bed rest) and specialist, if needed. Three, find people who are positive and encouraging but firm to be around. A great support system is vital in getting through anything. Four, help someone else who is going through something, whether it is similar or not. Five, please know that a mental illness is not the end of the world! Be proud of who you are and who you are going to become – a force of light to be reckoned with! Six, keep a journal. It doesn't have to be long entries; it can be a sentence or two just stating how you feel and what your day was like. It can help with moving forward and noting changes. Seven, LIVE ON PURPOSE! Find something that you love to do and work with it!

Mental health in and of itself is not to be taken lightly, whether it is ourselves, by artists or those closest to us. It, like being gay, should not be a label that continues to stigmatize people or continue being a taboo topic because people want to continue to sweep it under the rug as out of sight, out of mind. For this holiday season, my prayer for the LGBT community as a whole, and especially for those who suffer from mental illness, is that you find strength, comfort, and wisdom in something or someone that will hold you down; that you know that you are loved, blessed, a blessing, and more courageous than you may know; and that there is help and hope out there. Be of good courage, and happy journeying!

Thoughts for today:

Today I won't limit/What I know I can do now/I'm purposed for this

Tyehimba Eshe Folami Tulinagwe (name meanings): "We are a nation (of) life! (Please) respect and honor me, (because) God is with us."

Beautiful by India.Arie https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOfhbLn8fw8

If you, or someone you know, is in need of help or resources, please contact the following (from NAMI.org article):

1. GLBT National Hotline: 1-(888)-THE-GLNH – (888) 843-4564
2. Rainbow Youth Hotline: 1-(877)-LGBT-YTH – (877) 542-8984
3. LGBT Suicide Prevention Hotline: TheTrevorProject.org; 1-(800)-850-8078
4. NAMI: nami.org; 1-(800)-950-NAMI – (800) 950-6264
5. Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays: pflag.org
   
6. American Psychological Association: apa.org/pi/lgbc/
   
7. Rainbow Heights Club: rainbowheights.org
   

Purpose, Purposed, and Blessings!

REFERENCES:

Bostwick, Wendy B., PhD, MPH. (June 2007). Mental Health Issues Among Gay,            Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender (GLBT) People. Arlington, VA: National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), www.nami.org

http://www.nami.org/Content/ContentGroups/Multicultural_Support1/Fact_Sheet_1/GLBT_Mental_Health_07.pdf, accessed October 10, 2014.

Mayo Clinic Staff. (May 3, 2014). Symptoms. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/mental-illness/basics/symptoms/con-20033813, accessed October 17, 2014.

Wyatt, Daisy. (October 4, 2013). British mental health charities slam Miley Cyrus for mocking bi-polar Sinead O'Connor. From http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/british-mental-health-charities-slam-miley-cyrus-for-mocking-bipolar-sinead-oconnor-8859412.html, accessed October 10, 2014.

 

Sincerely,
Alfreda