Are you struggling to keep control over your emotions? Is there a deep sadness that sets in and is difficult to shake? Have you increasingly turned to alcohol or another substance to take the edge off?

Too often people do not want to admit that something is wrong when they are experiencing emotional or mental struggles. Yet ignoring it does anything but make it go away. It is inevitable that ignoring the problem can lead to a potentially disastrous outcome.

It’s time to strip away the old stigma that sometimes still surrounds mental and emotional health struggles. We’re not dealing with weakness or character flaws. We’re dealing with a real illness that responds to treatment.

As confirmed by a study conducted at Harvard Medical School, our society is greatly affected by untreated mental and emotional illness. Study results found that when looking at developed and developing nations, the United States has the highest rate of mental health disorders (such as depression) that often go undiagnosed and untreated.

When compared with all other diseases, mental illness ranks first in terms of causing disability in the U.S. This is mainly because many of those affected by mental illness hesitate to seek help, or simply don’t recognize the signs of struggle in themselves and others. As time goes on, if left untreated, symptoms and signs can evolve into debilitating physical or mental conditions.

A person’s psyche gives off warning signs. Be it constant feelings of emptiness or sadness, anger or restlessness, fear or euphoria, the real clue is when a person feels plagued by emotions they can’t seem to shake off, or emotions that rear up with a vengeance.

Unfortunately, when denying the realities of mental and emotional struggle, the affected unknowingly picks up destructive behaviors and habits while trying to find ways to numb the pain. They come to rely on (and hide behind) coping devices such as alcohol, drugs or even sex. Excessive use of coping devices easily turns into abuse, leading to a path that too often culminates in addiction.

Mental health issues and addiction are interrelated. They are also treatable. There are accessible avenues available for those suffering from these struggles.

In an effort to reach those suffering from mental and emotional struggles, Mental Health Services for Clark and Madison Counties offers free, anonymous and confidential online screenings 24-hours-a-day that can be taken from the comfort of your home or office. These screenings can be accessed by clicking on the “Anonymous Screenings” button on the left side of this site.

If mental and emotional struggles have stripped the joy out of life, help yourself or your loved ones regain that zest for living by seeking the professional assistance of your community’s Mental Health Services.