Written By Stan Popovich
Nowadays, you hear of people who deal with drug and alcohol addiction and other mental health issues who refuse to get the help they need to get better. Some of them go to rehab and don’t take advantage of the help that is available. Finally there are those who try to get help but because they failed the first or second time, they give up.

The problem with addiction and other mental health issues, such as depression, OCD, Anxiety Disorder, etc.,  is that they can ruin a person’s life and it can kill if left untreated. These mental health issues also effects the person’s family and friends, as it is difficult to see a loved one struggle to the point they can’t function.  When the person realizes that they have a problem, he or she may figure that it will go away by itself and that they  under estimate the devastation that addiction can do. They  may try to avoid their problems by using drugs and alcohol to avoid the pain or focus on their careers or other issues that will give them a reason to avoid the problem.

According to a report released by the National Institute of Mental Health, approximately one in every five adults suffers from a fear-related disorder. Their disorders hardly get noticed; forget being treated, because most of them feel too embarrassed to talk about their fears. There are millions out there.

The worst thing that person can do is to ignore their mental health and addiction issues or to make excuses.  Despite what some may think, these mental health issues are not a phase and will not just go away in time. The fact of the matter is that it will only get worse if the person doesn’t do something about it.

Think about this. Many people will do whatever it takes to protect their jobs and careers, their family, and their finances, however when it comes to  their mental health, many people don’t take advantage of the help that is available when they have a problem or they look for a  quick fix to their problems.  There is no quick fix in dealing with addiction or other mental health issues.

We all have choices in life. Don’t make the tragic mistake of underestimating your mental health issues.  If you tried to get help and it didn’t work out, then try again. Learn what works, what didn’t work, and what you need to improve on in managing your mental health issues and try it again.

If you have a family member that is struggling, learn as much as you can about how devastating addiction can be. Talk to the experts and learn as much as you can about these issues. As you start to learn about these mental health issues, share this information with the person who is struggling.

Another thing to remember is that things change and events do not stay the same. For instance, you may feel overwhelmed today with your anxiety and feel that this is how you will feel the rest of the week or month. This isn’t correct. No one can predict the future with one hundred percent accuracy. Even if the thing that you feared does happen there are circumstances and factors that you can’t predict which can be used to your advantage. You never know when the help and answers you are looking for will come to you.

If you have a loved one or friend who is not willing to get help despite your best efforts, remember this. Fear is a major factor in why people do not get help they need. Find out what their fear is in relation to their problems and find ways that will help manage or get rid of that fear. If you focus on finding the ways to manage or overcome the person’s fears, he or she will more willing to get the help they need to get better.

Biography
Stan Popovich is the author of “A Layman’s Guide to Managing Fear Using Psychology, Christianity and Non Resistant Methods” – an easy to read book that presents a general overview of techniques that are effective in managing persistent fears and anxieties. For additional information go to: www.managingfear.com