As defined by the Oxford Dictionary, trauma is a deeply distressing or disturbing experience, disturbing in the sense that it causes anxiety and worry. One of the telltale symptoms of somebody who has a mental illness is that the person has trauma and finds it highly disturbing when severely repeated, often resulting in a nervous breakdown.
A simple “How are you?” can do wonders. If a friend, a colleague, or even a stranger asks you how you are, you feel somebody cares enough to ask about you. Sometimes, a smile can brighten someone’s day. A warm “Hello!” can perk somebody up and turn a frown into a smile. Checking up on you can actually prevent someone from hurting themselves.
Being sensitive to another’s feelings can either make or break their day, so it is essential to be careful with the words you say. There are times when a particular word can easily “trigger” somebody to spazz out or react angrily to it. Why?
Because we might not know that the person has already suffered repeated trauma from it, a straightforward dropping of the terminology can throw them off and shatter them. For example, after simultaneous deaths amongst their family and relatives in succeeding years, an individual does not like to hear the word “dead” or patay anymore. When they were eating at a restaurant, her friend was joking: “What are you, PG?” She asks her friend: “What’s PG?” Thinking it was “Parental Guidance,” her friend smirkingly answered: Patay Gutom! and laughed!
In Filipino society, there is a running joke for those living in the lowest social class, the poor; if you are mentally ill, it’s just known as baliw or sira ulo, as somebody crazy is called. In contrast, those from the upper class or the elite would be said to have depression or be mentally ill, or have other kinds of mental illness, like bipolar disorder. That is where the stigma comes from, within the society itself. To others, it might seem like a joke, but to those who have poor mental health, it can be detrimental.
GUIDELINES
Here are some guidelines to determine if somebody should already seek help for their deteriorating mental health:
1. Note their behavior. If before they were extroverted, they tend to become introverted. You can tell the difference that they would rather be alone and do not want to talk. They follow what you say blindly. They would have their heads down, as if they felt ashamed. They tend to keep to themselves.
2. Lack of sleep. People who are suffering from a mental illness should not be deprived of good sleep. Lacking sleep would only worsen their condition because they would not be able to think clearly. They stay up late at night mainly because they are worried or have anxiety. They cannot stop dwelling on bad things that happened or might happen. If they worry too much and are unable to sleep, that’s when paranoia sets in, and they begin to have distorted thinking. Deep sleep for a few hours is better than the light sleep of tossing and turning.
3. Give them another point of view to see the bright side of things. For instance, if someone is consumed by negativity and can only think about problems, offer them guidance to help them find solutions. Let them know that there is hope in any situation, no matter how dire it may seem.
4. Keep them off social media. If a mentally ill person is feeding on what they hear on the radio or TV, it’s not healthy for them. If they continue to listen to others repeatedly discussing negative things, it will only reinforce their negative thoughts, leading to a ripple effect that fosters evil thoughts. They should have some peace so they don’t get affected by other people talking and sending out negative energy. Keep them off social media or avoid the noise from the radio and TV, whether on the World Wide Web or social media sites.
5. Encouraging them would be better than shouting at each other. Verbally fighting with someone who is mentally ill is not helpful at all. Talk about it. A calm demeanor is better than getting into a heated argument. Also, don’t let them confine themselves to the bedroom. Please encourage them to go out, exercise, and get some sunshine, which can help boost their endorphins. These are called the happy hormones. It helps lighten their mood. But sometimes a little quiet is also good.
A minor concern goes a long way. Remember to always check up on each other. If you or a loved one is having mental health issues, seek professional medical help—mental wellness matters.
