"We are much more than a diagnosis"
We often forget how important health is. One in four people worldwide is diagnosed with a mental health condition, a group I belong to, and where prejudice and lack of understanding translate into stigma, often reflected in the media and in certain TV series or films consumed from adolescence onward. Therefore, when we are diagnosed with a mental health disorder, we often have a misconception about the limitations it entails and how we can live a fulfilling life despite experiencing the disorder's symptoms. Every diagnosis involves symptoms, but the lack of visibility surrounding these disorders significantly impacts how we cope with them.
It's important to understand that each person experiences life and illness, which are a part of us, in their own way. We can't lump an entire group together under the same premises; this has been very detrimental, since everyone experiences entirely unique symptoms. We are much more than a diagnosis , something absolutely necessary for treatment, but which doesn't imply many of the limitations that have been imposed on us. Two people with the same diagnosis don't necessarily have the same experience; each person has their own strengths, weaknesses, and ways of coping.
Mental disorders in film and television
It's necessary to raise awareness of our community and break down prejudices , to understand that mental health disorders are like any other illness, to eliminate taboos, and to make it easier for anyone to ask for help when they need it, just as we do when we get injured playing sports. For me, asking for help in time and getting treatment has changed my life . Like so many others. We must become aware that without mental health, there is no health of any kind, and that stigmatizing a group benefits no one. Some of the things I've had to hear, like "For someone with your condition, you can hold a conversation" or "I didn't know people like you could study," and many more, reflect the widespread ignorance surrounding this issue.
The treatment: medication and much more
It's clear that everyone copes with a diagnosis in their own unique way, with all that entails, but by listening to the professionals, I've managed to lead a completely different life than the one I had when I was first diagnosed at 17. I don't believe there's a cure as such, since it's a chronic condition, but there is improvement that allows me to lead a fully fulfilling life. In my case, I've taken everything the psychologists, psychiatrists, and nurses have told me very seriously.
David Millana
I think it's also important to be as transparent as possible with the healthcare professionals treating us when following a treatment plan. Finding the right medication and dosage is a very difficult task, but at the same time, it's the foundation of our improvement. We should let ourselves be guided by the treatment, but without ceasing to express our priorities. In my case, it took more than a year to find the right one because some people are sensitive to side effects. Currently, the medication makes me very drowsy and puts more strain on my liver, but I take care of myself by trying to detoxify my liver as much as possible. Even though the medication causes certain side effects, in the end it's always worth it. Every diagnosis has a treatment to help us improve, and ours offers a wide range of options.
But to say that the improvement is solely due to medication would be putting all the eggs in one basket. It's important to take medication and follow the specialists' advice, but medication must be combined with rehabilitation. If the treatment is combined with other aspects such as therapy , playing sports , reading or studying to stay mentally active, socializing with people we feel comfortable with, and not consuming toxins , We can lead a completely fulfilling life. In my case, despite all this, I have my symptoms, which, after working for several years with a psychologist, and with a lot of effort on her part, I have managed to cope with, without forgetting that there are daily tasks that present an added difficulty for me, such as reading or studying and expressing myself verbally in a fluent way, and that I am more sensitive to stress or nerves.
It is important to combine treatment with other aspects such as therapy , playing sports , reading or studying , socializing and not consuming toxic substances .
Having a mental health disorder doesn't mean I'm unaware of my limitations, and I have to work daily to try to overcome them. When I study, I know that understanding what I read the first time is difficult, so I usually read it several times until I understand it. On the other hand, I have classmates without disorders who complain after reading a text only once and not understanding it because it's too difficult. It's very important to know that everything can be improved . that there is improvement.
An independent life, overcoming taboos and stigmas
Currently, I live a completely independent life. I have two advanced degrees, I drive every day, I exercise daily (I'm a member of a sports federation, as I've always enjoyed competing), and I love reading, especially history. I have friends who share my diagnosis and others who don't, but they understand me just the same, and I attribute my improvement to them as well. I share both my personality and my hobbies with them. I also love animals (I adopted a cat a few years ago) and nature. I've always enjoyed being helpful and feeling fulfilled, as one thing leads to the other. One of my dreams is to volunteer abroad, but with the current situation, that's impossible. I owe all my achievements to the professional team that has supported me and continues to support me.
The importance of early intervention in psychosis
Finding the right medication dosage, undergoing therapy, and following recommendations like exercising, reading, and socializing doesn't mean we won't experience relapses and ups and downs, as with any chronic illness. In this sense, it's important that we learn to manage the disorder ourselves, since we can't be completely dependent on specialists, and we won't always have someone to lend a hand.
Because of all the ignorance and prejudice surrounding mental health disorders, explaining our diagnosis to our closest circle , perhaps to feel more understood and free, can become an embarrassing situation. Therefore, I recommend that once our friends or partner truly know us, without any preconceived notions about what a mental disorder is, we explain our diagnosis to them freely, so they can see that we are really just like anyone else. Doing so from the beginning, when they don't yet know us, can lead to misunderstandings.
We must break the taboo surrounding mental health, because not seeking help in time can cost lives.
Since being diagnosed with a mental health disorder about 13 years ago, I've learned to truly value health, especially mental health, and to appreciate all the work done by psychologists, psychiatrists, nurses, and other healthcare professionals. Without them, we'd be navigating one of the biggest health problems we face today completely blindly. We must break the taboo surrounding mental health, because not seeking help in time can cost lives. Everything has a solution. With time, treatment, therapy, and by following the instructions, we can enjoy life. We need to raise awareness of a problem that, unfortunately, affects more and more people every day, because today it's me, but tomorrow it could be you. Without mental health, there is no health.
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