When something is strange about how your body is feeling physically, including any behavior changes, our self-awareness can help us seek treatment. When we do not have that awareness, this is called anosognosia. Anosognosia may be affecting you, but it no longer needs to be a barrier to receiving the mental health treatment you need.
Signs of Anosognosia
One of the major symptoms of anosognosia is denial. If someone points out something different about you, you could be defensive, saying there is nothing wrong with you and you do not need help. Other signs can be confusion over what others are saying because you do not see yourself the way they do. This means you may not be experiencing denial but do not notice what others do. Suppose you are prescribed medication by your doctor. In that case, you do not take it because you feel it is unnecessary — people with mental health conditions like bipolar disorder, depression, schizophrenia, and more experience anosognosia.
Challenges of Anosognosia
If anosognosia stops you from getting mental health treatment, your mental health symptoms can worsen over time. You may have trouble following your treatment plan if you think it is pointless. For example, schizophrenia can make it hard to distinguish between what is real and a hallucination. Going into treatment will increase your chances of gaining employment, controlling your symptoms, improving relationships, and reducing the possibility of harm.
Causes of Anosognosia
A study published in Science Direct titled “Anosognosia” states that anosognosia can result from specific brain deficits in different regions of the brain. Your frontal lobe is constantly updating new information about your body. Those with anosognosia do not have their system updated, leading to an inaccurate self-image. No matter the cause, anosognosia is not a condition to be ignored.
Treatment Options
Luckily, there are plenty of treatment options for anosognosia. Therapy is an effective method of treatment to gain insight into your mental health condition. How long the sessions are will be based on what mental illness you are tackling. Medications can also be good for you when combined with therapy to get the insight you need. The sooner you reach out for support, the better your chances are of treating anosognosia as well as other underlying mental health conditions.
Anosognosia is when you do not realize changes are happening to your body and mind. This can make it very complicated when seeking treatment or sticking with your treatment plan. A combination of medication and therapy can help you gain the awareness you need for managing mental health symptoms. At Alta Loma, we understand the importance of treating mental health, and we are here to help you. Located in Georgetown, Texas, we can provide you with individualized therapy, medication management, life skills groups, and more. Call us at (866) 457-3843 for more information.
