On Mental Illness: Three Coping Strategies

On Mental Illness: Three Coping Strategies

I find it interesting that there are a number of different situations are known to cause mental illness. For example, people who experience physical abuse, emotional neglect, parental divorce, loss of parents, etc., are more likely to suffer from some form of mental illness. Also, people act differently when they experience a difficult situation. For instance, loss of a loved one, and being abused. I believe that the loss of parents or loved ones shouldn't cause mental illness in a person. In my own understanding as a girl who lost a loved one, I would tend to reflect the best way to overcome as follows:

* Resilience

* Forgiveness/ Forgetting

* Faith

In class, we discussed resilience, which is the ability to bounce back from hardship. These are the people who always seem to have the ability to remain calm after a hard time, and this makes me believe that sometimes resilience can be biological. This is the main reason why it's a natural quality of a certain biological being. However, I believe that resilience is something that one can attain, even if they're not naturally resilient. For others it's like it's the end of the world when they are going through trying times. However it's up to the person if he or she is willing to move on, realizing that one doesn't have to forget, but to realize that life goes on. Also, the ability to go on living. If things change, whether it's losing a loved one, or losing property, the only solution is to be resilient, so that the person can return to his or her original state of mind.

Next, practicing forgiveness is often the only way to recover from a harm that is being caused by someone else. We discussed in class that the past is the past, and the future is what we make it, and that's what we should focus on rather than dwell on the past. I absolutely agree. Certainly everyone has been hurt by the actions or words of another. For example, by parents who are alcoholic or abusive. These wounds can lead to lasting feelings of anger and bitterness, and eventually to mental illness -- but if one does not practice forgiveness; he or she may be the one who pays most greatly. By embracing forgiveness, which means accepting hope, gratitude and happiness, we experience joy and peace in our own lives.

Finally, faith helps those who believe in God, or have a spiritual inclination. For many people, faith is an essential part of life. Putting one's faith in a higher power gives one a sense of participating in a larger design, and reassures them that they are not out at sea in a chaotic universe, but they are watched over and loved. However, more serious problems such as depression, thoughts of suicide, or bipolar disorder, often require medication in addition