Striving for Tolerance: How We Can Destigmatize Substance Abuse and Mental Health Disorders

Let’s be honest: all of us, at one time or another, have been affected by substance abuse or mental health problems. Even if you yourself have not directly dealt with them, you absolutely know a loved one that has. With this being said, why do many folks struggling with them every day feel so alone and secluded from the rest of society?

This may very well be because the attitudes and mannerisms of some individuals can represent society as a whole. That is, in the eyes of those affected by said problems. At the end of the day, what we truly want is for these people to seek help or rehabilitation as opposed to continuing with their self-destructive lifestyles. While this is much easier said than done, making sure we are tolerant of them is the very least we can do to set them on the right path.

According to American Addiction Centers, 19.7 million adults struggles with substance abuse in 2017 alone, which shows the importance and severity of this problem. With this being said, being tolerant and patient of one another’s respective situations is the very least we can do for each other. Considering the fact that rehabilitation is the best possible outcome for these affected individuals, we want to reinforce attitudes that drive them towards self-care, not away from it.

One thing we can all start doing in order to create a more welcoming environment for these individuals is to try and broaden our view of why they are struggling. While there may be no good reason to abuse drugs or alcohol, there are reasons that can explain it nonetheless. Simply take into consideration that you are not present with these people every second of every day, that there are factors involved which you cannot see. In their eyes, they see a reason to use, plain and simple. Even if they don’t, there is a good chance they have a biological addiction to these substances and are unable to quit easily. Raising your own awareness and making yourself more tolerant can work wonders for folks who are looking for signs to improve themselves. One great way to do this is by speaking with loved ones who have been affected by these problems, which may allow you to better understand their situation.