Understanding Mental Health and the Effects of Drugs

When we talk about mental health we have to understand two aspects of mental health, mental wellness and mental illness.

Mental wellness is a state of well-being in which an individual can function efficiently, manage daily stressors, and contribute positively to the community.

For instance, when you travel in the morning, you may encounter drivers who beep, yell, and seem agitated when stuck in a traffic jam. Again, you might find another driver waiting for his turn calm and composed.

An individual can be considered mentally well if like the other driver can easily deal with daily life stressors.

In contrast, mental illness refers to a spectrum of mental health problems, which are clinically diagnosable illnesses that significantly interfere in an individual’s cognitive, social, and emotional abilities.

Some examples of common mental illnesses are depression, anxiety, stress, bipolar, schizophrenia, and OCD.

What causes mental illness?

We care for our physical health by grooming well, eating healthily, and visiting doctors when we feel sick. But what do we do to keep our minds healthy?

Unfortunately, the majority of us don’t do anything.

To ensure good mental health, one must cultivate the habit of positive thinking.

Our thoughts are food for our minds. Just like if we eat unhealthy food, we end up getting stomach problems. Similarly, if we feed our mind with unhealthy thoughts that lead to anger, jealousy, self-pity, and self-doubt, we end up feeling anxious, stressed, or depressed.

Though genetic factors, childhood trauma, and painful life experiences play a significant role in developing mental disorders, if we learn how to control our thoughts, we can prevent many mental health issues such as stress, depression, and anxiety.

Another way of ensuring good mental health is to live in the present moment. When we ponder over painful past experiences, we feel depressed.

When we think about the unknown future, we feel anxious. But when we strive to live in the present moment and try to make the most of it, we are at peace.

Additionally, mental health can be significantly enhanced by leading a disciplined lifestyle.

What we do in the first hour after we wake up greatly influences our mental health.

For instance, if we spend about half an hour or more going through our social media feeds, checking emails, or simply browsing through our phones first thing in the morning, we are depleting the energy of our mind by bombarding it with meaningless information even before we start the day.

Do you think a fatigued mind will have the capacity to deal with any stressor?

Therefore, instead of using our phones the first thing in the morning, we must discipline our minds and cultivate the habit of devoting the first hour to meditation, exercise, spiritual practice, reading something positive, and planning for the day.

Make an effort to be quiet and peaceful during the first hour of the day.

This habit can fuel our minds with immense positive energy to take us through any stressful situation that comes up during the day.

Furthermore, learning the art of “Let go” is crucial.

If we cling to past unpleasant situations in our lives blaming an individual, or seeking an answer such as “Why Me”, we will not only add up to our misery but also slowly drift into the sinkhole of depression.

Unfortunately, some individuals who are unable to take care of their thoughts, and emotions end up using substances such as tobacco, alcohol, and drugs to cope with their emotional issues, to feel good, and to calm down. Drug usage causes brain neurons to release more dopamine which is strongly associated with the feel-good and pleasure factor that in turn leads to feeling euphoric and this becomes addictive.

How does drug usage affect the mind?

Drugs can have a significant effect on our cognitive functioning. The part of the brain, which is called the frontal lobe located towards the front of our head, is affected profoundly.

The frontal lobe regulates cognition, judgement, decision-making, reasoning, memory, critical thinking, and emotions.

The usage of drugs such as meth can reduce the volume and plasticity of the frontal lobe and as a result, will impair cognitive functioning.

Thus a person who is into long-term addiction has poor judgement and decision-making ability. Consequently, they are unable to restrain themselves from taking drugs.

This can lead to long-lasting impairments in cognitive and emotional regulation and can make recovery from addiction very hard.

Apart from affecting cognitive functioning, drug usage can also lead to major mental disorders including psychotic disorder, mood disorders such as bipolar disorder, along with depression, and anxiety, and this can happen to individuals without a prior history of mental disorder.

Psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia, which include hallucinations and delusions, can be a result of excessive drug abuse.

This can lead to severe conditions and might require admission to a mental health facility for continuous monitoring, which will include medication and psychotherapy, and could take several years to recover.

The use of drugs can destroy life profoundly. This path only leads to destruction as one loses all self-control.

Some try drugs to experiment, some due to peer pressure, and some to overcome stress or despair but unfortunately, it makes the situation worse and leads to lifelong suffering.

It would be wise never to take this route but focus on our mental health instead. Much like regular exercise builds strong muscles and a fit body to lift heavy weights and prevent diseases, regular meditation, the practice of positive thinking, and a healthy lifestyle are the keys to overcoming any emotional challenges.

The views expressed here are solely the author’s and not of the university where she works or of the newspaper where it is