Change the brain chemistry of your mental illness

Most people believe that mental illness means that a person has failed in looking after themselves, has a personality defect, or just isnt trying hard enough. With 1 in 4 adults suffering from a mental illness, these wrong ideas hit us pretty hard and make us feel like a failure before we even begin trying to fight our mental illness. But, science can point us in a very different direction. Studies of the brain have pointed to causes of mental illness that have nothing to do with your personality or failures. Instead, imbalances of chemicals in the brain are found to be a cause.


Image source: www.bestmastersinpsychology.com
This inforgraphic shows us why medication is sometimes a lifesaver. It can be way out of our control to cope when these chemical imbalances affect us. Medication is able to go straight to the problem and level out those imbalances making it easier for us to cope, and easier to fight your mental illness on your terms. Think of it in the way that it weakens your opponent, making it easier to land your punches effectively and win the game. Stigma says that if you rely on medication then you are not truly doing it for yourself, and you must be so weak that you can even fight your mental illness by yourself. THIS IS NOT THE CASE. Medication is a tool, and your gonna need a whole toolbox to fight mental illness. Why wouldn't you use all the tools in the toolbox to give yourself a better chance? Do not listen to society's opinions, they are so wrong. Medication can really help, so dont rob yourself from its blessing.

Research into brain chemistry has gone even further, finding that we can actually rewire our own brains, using different process'. Meaning, no matter how tired, how old or how young, we have a chance to effectively battle mental illness.

Credit: http://www.katsioulis.com/rewiring-the-brain-infographic

Our brain has connections called neural pathways. Each of these pathways is related to a habit, activity of way of thinking. I have a neural pathway for self worth. I have a neural pathway for piano playing. Everything we do has its very own pathway in our brain. When we use these pathways a lot, like when something becomes a habit, these pathways become wider and stronger.

Some of our negative self talk is probably a very strong and wide pathway, because we go over it constantly, stress about it, and even cry about it. But when we confront the thought (or pathway) and with repetitious behaviour stop and replace it with a new pathway, we can actually rewire our brain to think healthier more positive thoughts. 

So, the science behind our mental illness gives us a deeper understanding of what is really going on up there in our heads, and gives us extra tools like medication and healthy habits, to actively combat mental illness. You can find more information about these studies and how to rewire your brain here:

10 Methods to Creating New Neural Pathways

Rewiring the Brain InfoGraphic

The Science of Mental Health

Brain Basics