If you suffer from mental illness, you're not alone. Approximately one in five US adults have some form of mental illness. Unfortunately, many of those adults avoid getting the help they need. Often that avoidance stems from fear. Specifically, they're afraid of the stigma that's attached to mental illness treatment. If you're one of those adults, it's time to take action. There are ways to overcome the stigma that's keeping you from getting the help you need. 

Find People Who Share Your Concerns

If you're afraid to get the help you need for your mental health issues, the first thing you need to do is join a support group. There are others who share your feelings about mental health treatment. Joining a support group will allow you to gain strength and support from people who are dealing with the same struggles. 

Keep Your Friends and Family Involved

If you're struggling with mental illness, and you're afraid of how people will respond once you begin treatment, reach out to your family and friends. One of the problems with keeping mental health issues to yourself is that they can cause you to go into isolation. When that happens, the symptoms associated with mental illness can worsen. Not only that, but you prevent your family and friends from offering you the support you need. 

Separate Yourself From the Illness

When you're dealing with mental health issues, you might have trouble separating yourself from the condition. Unfortunately, attaching yourself to the mental illness can add to the stigma, and interfere with your ability to get the help you need. If you're not able to identify whether you've attached yourself to the illness, listen to the way you describe the illness. For instance, if you've been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, you can separate yourself from the illness by saying that you have depression, rather than saying you are depressed. This will help you to realize that you are separate from the illness you've been diagnosed with. 

Don't Let Shame Stop the Progress

Finally, if you've been diagnosed with a mental health condition, but you're afraid to seek treatment, don't let shame stop you in your tracks. One of the problems associated with mental illness is that it can make you doubt yourself. It can also leave you feeling like you've done something to cause the illness. Unfortunately, shame and self-doubt can increase the stigma surrounding mental health treatment. To learn more information, reach out to a company such as Family Center for Recovery.