Marked by trials and triumphs, and the utmost dedication to nurturing one’s mental state, the road to recovery is not evenly paved — and it is definitely not done in a single step. For those diagnosed with a mental illness, or for those who want to support someone who is, learning about recovery and long-term coping skills is critical in ensuring a healthy, happy Wolfpack.
Monica Z. Osburn, the director of NC State’s Counseling Center, credits any sort of noticeable change as a possible warning sign of a mental illness. By recognizing an inward or outward change in oneself, or someone else, one can move forward in finding out if there’s a larger issue at hand and, if this proves true, coming up with a proper treatment plan.
“If you’re noticing in one of your friends a significant change in how they’re showing up [that can be a warning sign to look for],” Osburn said. “That could be a physical change. Maybe they’re not dressing like themselves or looking tired, or just [acting] withdrawn. It can be an emotional change, where maybe they’re extra irritable or grumpy, but when you start to see those changes that’s probably the biggest indicator [of a mental illness].”
The period of time following a mental illness diagnosis is crucial in terms of understanding symptoms and seeking treatment. For some, this may mean seeking individual counseling. However, Osburn said that mental illness looks different for all who are affected and, therefore, treatment plans and recovery tactics don’t come in a one-size-fits-all package.
“Counseling can be very helpful, but maybe you can find support in your peer group just to work through a tough situation, or your church — wherever you find that support and connection,” Osburn said.
Andrea Chase, the president of Wake County’s National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) chapter, is another key figure in Raleigh’s mental health community. Through support groups, educational efforts and advocacy, NAMI Wake County is working to ensure students and community members have the resources and support they need in order to effectively manage a mental illness.
Andrea Chase first got involved with NAMI after her husband was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2011, in order to receive understanding and become further educated on mental health issues. This proved difficult as she watched her husband of 25 years, Jonathan Chase, spiral into abnormal behaviors like staying awake for days at a time.
Another change she noticed within her husband was his inability to hold a job after his father’s death — which Chase suggested was the initial trigger of his battle with bipolar disorder.
“We’ve been living together for a long time, and I kind of felt like something’s not right,” Chase said. “There was always a struggle for us […] getting this diagnosis was kind of a relief, because things started to make sense for the first time in a long time — but I didn’t know anything about bipolar disorder.”
Learning how to support someone with a mental illness is an important next step of the recovery process, as education can further help the diagnosed person feel supported, advocated for and empowered to seek help. However, this help can be met with resistance. Therefore, it is important to remain patient and understanding.
“The whole time I was trying to figure out, ‘what do I do?’” Chase said. “‘How do I support him?’ ‘How do we help each other?’”
The cycle of ups and downs, of relapse and hope, is typical of the recovery process. In order to efficiently navigate the rocky waters of recovery as a full-time college student, the Counseling Center is fully equipped with drop-in groups, group counseling and individual counseling sessions — all of which are free for NC State students. Osburn said drop-in groups are becoming more and more popular, especially the “Free Expression Sessions,” which focus on art as a therapy tool.
Between appointments, there are plenty of coping mechanisms one can do in order to keep symptoms from getting out of hand. Osburn suggested taking deep breaths, which can ease anxiety and stress. Chase noted regular exercise and eating healthy as additional ways to help alleviate symptoms. All of these recovery-centric options, from medication to counseling to coping mechanisms, help one effectively manage a mental illness in their daily life.
After becoming educated on mental health issues and seeking help — whether it be professional or nonprofessional — one can begin setting up a plan for treatment. This is best done by a trained psychiatrist or counselor. By making a counseling or psychiatry appointment, and continuing to make appointments if needed, those affected by mental illness can fully start on the path toward healing.
“What you’re experiencing is most likely temporary, even if it doesn’t feel like it — and it is possible to recover from [mental health] illnesses just like any other illnesses,” Chase said.
