Nobody is going to call into question the severity of your broken arm. The disfigured shape, the swelling, the likely obvious way in which you sustained it, all this sets it up for maximum sympathy. How many times have you seen someone in a cast or a sling and felt that pang of empathy as you imagine yourself unable to participate in whatever your favourite activity is or imagine the long hours of physio that might be needed to get back to full capacity? This kind of physical injury is overt and the treatment is typically clear cut. Mental disorders on the other hand often suffer and as a result those with them, from their covert nature. For the highly educated in this field or maybe for those who have extensive experience with mental disorders they may be more obvious but for many of us they can be hard to spot and as a result, lack the empathy they so desperately require. If you have found yourself in the position where you are working through a mental disorder and the World Health Organisation states that 1 in 8 people in the world live with a mental disorder, then empathy is probably easier to come by, as you will be familiar with just how debilitating they can be.
Mental disorders are typically characterised by a significant disturbance in a person’s cognition, emotional regulation or behaviour. They will typically play a big role in impairing important areas of functioning, which, as you can imagine, leads to substantial distress for both the individual dealing with the disorder and the people close to them. Mental disorders sometimes get referred to as mental health conditions but this is in fact a broader term, covering psychosocial disabilities. Whilst these can still create significant impairments and distress, they are not considered to be mental health disorders.
Recent impacts upon socialisation and stresses over the last few years, like the limitations and challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic, has meant that rates of mental disorders have skyrocketed. Over 2020, the statistics suggest up to at least a 26% increase in rates of anxiety and major depressive disorders, with these two disorders far and away the most prevalent mental disorders. Whilst many people don’t have the necessary prevention and treatment options available to them, there are a vast array of vitamins that you can access from a discount pharmacy, which can help to curb the impact of mental disorders and provide a higher quality of life.
To begin with, there are thirteen types of vitamins which are found in food. These include:
- Vitamin A
- The B Vitamins (thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, biotin, B6, B12, and folate)
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin D
- Vitamin K
- Vitamin E
Below are some recommendations for particular vitamins which can help to boost certain mental functions, both treating and preventing drastic impacts upon mood, thinking and behaviour, which these mental disorders can wreak havoc with.
Vitamin B
A diet that’s rich in Vitamin B can significantly boost mental health. Studies have drawn a link between Vitamin B deficiency and memory function. As a result, cognitive ability can be impacted, in some cases contributing to dementia. A more immediate concern is that B Vitamins have a big impact on mood. As Vitamin B1 is utilised by the body to convert glucose into energy, without it, the brain, quite simply, won't function normally. The other key B Vitamin is B12. Vitamin B12 boosts the production of serotonin and dopamine. Among other regulatory functions, these two chemicals regulate feelings of emotions, such as pleasure and a sense of feeling rewarded. As you can imagine, these play a huge role in somebody’s sense of wellbeing. It’s worth exploring how B vitamins might help to treat conditions like depression or other contributing factors, like insomnia. A huge range of B vitamin supplements can be accessed via a discount pharmacy and go a long way to improving mental health.
Vitamin C
We’re all familiar with the concept of reaching for the Vitamin C when we feel a cold coming on but many people are less aware of the links between low vitamin C and mood, specifically depression. People who lack Vitamin C are far more likely to experience depression and chronic fatigue and it has even been discovered that people with normal levels of vitamin C experience boosts to their mood, cognitive function and possibly decreased symptoms of anxiety. All of these are great reasons to check out your discount pharmacy and stock up on some vitamin C.
Vitamin D
For the vast majority of people, the sun is the main source of Vitamin D. However, if you live in an area that lacks sunshine or are perhaps more highly susceptible to sun damage, this may not be such a viable option. Testing has discovered that people who are experiencing symptoms of depression also had lower than normal Vitamin D levels. If you are not able to access a satisfactory level of Vitamin D from the sun then make sure to check out a discount pharmacy and explore the options available regarding Vitamin D supplements.
Alongside vitamins, there are other key minerals which can also aid in the prevention and treatment of mental disorders. These include:
Zinc
If you are running short on the essential mineral of zinc then there is a good chance that you will be experiencing reduced brain function. Zinc helps your brain to pass important chemical messages and if you are not accessing it via your diet then your mental health is likely to benefit significantly from picking up a supplement from a discount pharmacy.
Magnesium
Magnesium plays a really important role in calming the nervous system. Without it there’s a high chance that your sleep will be impacted, even to the point of insomnia. With effective sleep being one of the key drivers of good mental health, incorporating more magnesium into your diet or via supplements can help to stabilise mood and even relax muscles.
Maintaining a healthy diet and incorporating supplements can help to avoid nutritional deficiencies that can contribute to mental disorders. It is strongly advised that you consult a doctor before taking supplements but there is no reason to put up with distress just because it may not be easily seen.
