This month of May has quite a few differences assigned to it. So, if you could, bare with me and let's learn about some of them! Some of these are more commonly heard of than others. At least for me, there were some I did not even know about.
Better Hearing and Speech Month: Better Hearing and Speech Month is utilized to help raise awareness about the communication differences that exist in today’s society.
Mental Health Awareness Month: This month is also commonly known simply as "Mental Health Month". Some differences that fall under mental health differences are Anxiety, Bipolar disorder, Depression, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and Psychosis just to give a few examples.
Anxiety differences are illnesses that cause people to feel frightened, distressed and uneasy for no apparent reason. There are many types of anxiety differences. A common one, and the one I struggle with personally is, Generalized Anxiety Disorder. It is chronic and can cause exaggerated worry about everyday routine life events and activities, almost always anticipating the worst even though there is little reason to expect it. Accompanied by physical symptoms, such as fatigue, trembling, muscle tension, headache, or nausea.
A difference that we tend to hear talked about and sometimes thrown around is Depression. Like anxiety, there are also varying types of depression. Depression is a category of mood disorders that involve extended periods of feeling extremely low and can disrupt a person’s ability to enjoy life. Depression is also a feature of Bipolar Disorder. It can also be something that accompanies an anxiety difference.
Psychosis is a general term to describe a set of symptoms of mental illnesses that result in strange or bizarre thinking, perceptions (sight, sound), behaviors, and emotions. Psychosis is a brain-based condition that is made better or worse by environmental factors - like drug use and stress. There are several types of psychosis that exist in various forms.
Schizotypal Disorder: is a personality disorder that can easily be confused with schizophrenia due to the nature of people with schizotypal personality disorder to have "magical" or eccentric beliefs, unusual thoughts and paranoia. People with schizotypal personality disorder may experience brief psychotic episodes with delusions or hallucinations, but the episodes are not as frequent, prolonged or intense as in schizophrenia.
National Asthma and Allergy Awareness month: These differences are very well-known differences. Several people around the world suffer from asthma and allergies. Due to May being one of the months where everything is blossoming causing allergies and breathing issues to arise for many, May was chosen for this reason to be the month to raise awareness for asthma and allergies.
Prader Willi Awareness Month: Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a genetic difference that occurs in approximately one out of every 15,000 births. PWS affects males and females with equal frequency and affects all races and ethnicities. PWS is recognized as the most common genetic cause of life-threatening childhood obesity.
Williams Syndrome Awareness Month: Williams syndrome (WS) is a genetic condition that is present at birth and can affect anyone. It is characterized by medical problems, including cardiovascular disease, developmental delays, and learning challenges.
May 1- Global Developmental Delay Day: Global Developmental Delay Day is to acknowledge and educate others on some of the differences that can occur while a child is going through the developmental process from birth to 18 years old.
May 15- Tuberous Sclerosis Global Awareness Day: Tuberous Sclerosis complex or (TSC) is a genetic difference that can cause non-malignant, or infectious, tumors to form in various organs. Many people who get diagnosed with this difference are actually able to lead normal lifestyles, and for the most part have a normal lifespan.
May 5-12- Cri du Chat Awareness Week: Cri du Chat is a chromosomal difference that occurs from the deletion of the chromosome 5. At birth the main things that are affected and that will most likely continue to be affected are the larynx and the nervous system. At birth, the sound of a child’s cry who has fallen victim to Cri du Chat may sound like a meowing kitten. Females are affected more so than males, but 1 in 50,000 live births are affected.
May 8-14 (<- Not accurate) Brain Injury Awareness Week: This month is not actually brain injury awareness month. I thought it was, however, the source I used assigned it to the wrong month. I believe it is actually the month of march that is Brain injury awareness month. All forms of brain injury are unique in their own ways. Each case is different, and the ways in which one individual may have been affected, may not be the same for another individual.
For more information, feel free to go to the following links. They are in order of which topics were discussed first to last!
https://www.asha.org/bhsm/
http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/may <---(All mental health conditions discussed in this post were found under the "learn more" tab on this site.)
https://www.aafa.org/asthma-and-allergy-awareness-month/
https://www.fpwr.org/pws-awareness-month
https://williams-syndrome.org/what-is-williams-syndrome
www.specialeducationalneeds.co.uk/global-developmental-delay.html
https://www.tscinternational.org/what-is-tsc/
https://fivepminus.org/about-5p-syndrome/
https://www.biausa.org/public-affairs/public-awareness/news/march-is-brain-injury-awareness-month
Please remember that anyone who has any type of difference, all they want is to be treated just like everyone else. Help others when you can and try to bring understanding to yourself and others on the various types of differences that exist.
Best Regards,
The Inspiring Hummingbird!
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