Mental Health Battles: Why It's More Than Just Willpower

-Dubori Nayantora

Intern, May- July 2024

Human existence has been rooted in infinite individual experiences and dynamics, that make every one of us unique from one another as well as make us realize that at the end of the day, all we have is each other. Through such uniqueness, we are offered battles that sometimes go beyond the comprehension of just a simple A-Z conclusion, especially when it comes to mental health battles that are not that easy to recognize on the surface.

When we see our loved ones struggling mentally, we must have wondered, "Why can't they just control themselves and stop?" "Don't they love us enough to prioritize our relationship and make an effort to improve the situation?" We all must have been in this position, daunting over how they are not just making their own life miserable, but also impacting our lives adversely. Yet, is self-control and reflection all they need to put a full stop to their battles and overcome the thick layers of their issues?

The piece therefore presents the factors that come into play in the development of mental health issues and how recovering from it does not independently lie in the individual's willpower. 

Biological Factors

1. Genetics plays a huge role in making the individual vulnerable to mental health issues. The individual's genetic makeup can determine their personality and contribute to the inheritance of behavioral traits that present the person with risks of developing mental health issues.

2. Neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin play a huge role in affecting our emotions, pleasure, and mood, thus polymorphisms of such neurotransmitters lead to the development of mental health issues. 

3. Hormones released by our endocrine glands such as cortisol which is also known as stress hormones, are responsible for preparing our body for fight or flight situations, and excessive release of this hormone can lead to higher risks of anxiety and depression. Likewise, too little or too much thyroid hormones that are responsible for one's growth and metabolism can cause symptoms of depression and anxiety. 

Environmental Factors

1. Factors such as childhood and past experiences, parenting styles, peer group, socio-economic conditions, and culture can have a major impact on how an individual develops coping mechanisms to survive in their environment which eventually forms an outline of how they will perceive their future relationships with others as well as with themselves. 

Lack of professional help

1. The absence of mental health resources and awareness leads to individuals seeking comfort through harmful means such as the use of substances to boost their level of pleasure through drugs, and indulging in risky and unacceptable behavior such as committing crimes and breaking socially established laws. 

2. The combination of genetic, environmental, and professional resources leads to our loved ones adopting maladaptive behavior that deviates them from us and society, but it is essential to understand that these factors cannot be eradicated through just mere self-control, will, and even the love they have for us, as these issues are beyond the individual's survival strategies and they need guidance and help from professionals in the mental health field.

How can we support the ones we love?

1. Individuals suffering from mental health issues have been trying to survive through their battles while having to feel different and misunderstood by their loved ones. Therefore, we must show them empathy and validation of what they are dealing with. 

2. Their behavior and struggles are not about us, and we have to learn not to make it about ourselves no matter how painful it might be for us as an outside observer of their struggles. Instead, we need to acknowledge the factors that might have aggravated their battles and extend support and encouragement to seek professional help while in treatment. 

3. Recovery from mental health issues takes time, sometimes the individual does not completely heal, and therefore we need to give up on the idea of them "getting over" their struggles and instead learn to understand their triggers.

4. We can take care of ourselves by learning more about their mental illness and seeking professional help for ourselves!
   

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