Coping With Mental Health Illnesses – What Will And What Won’t Work

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Mental health illnesses are a very sensitive topic, but it can be overcome. It’s not the same as overcoming financial problems or relationship issues. Mental illnesses like depression, anxiety, and OCD, as explained in psychology, happens when the brain malfunctions. This can take a toll on your daily activities, making it hard to accomplish even the simplest of tasks.

Your emotional stability is another part of this illness. This can also be a great factor for your capacity to deliver day to day tasks, and it can even be deemed as something not serious. But we all know that this is a very serious subject that needs to be discussed and understood.

Battling with mental illness is a complicated and stressful thing. “A mental illness cannot be willed away or brushed aside with a change in attitude. Ignoring the problem doesn’t give it the slip either.” Deborah Serani, PsyD said. Acknowledging you have a mental illness can be embarrassing because people don’t take it seriously. But having people around you to support you can be a great help for you to overcome this situation along with therapies and treatments.

We will be talking about the things that worked and didn’t work to overcome mental illness. Below are the following:

What Will Work

Admitting My Weaknesses

“Our society tells us that if you talk about your issues, express your feelings, or even verbalize you have a mental health disorder, you must be “weak.”,” says Ryan Parks, M.Ed, LPCC. But it shouldn’t have to be that way. Accepting and acknowledging our weakness can give you a fresh start. Beating yourself up for your mental illness that you didn’t ask for, is not going to help you get better but accepting and admitting your disease and weakness can help you start helping yourself. Don’t be embarrassed because other people are going through the same thing as you are, and once you understand yourself more, you can help yourself be better.

Realizing Who I Am Deep Down Inside To The Core Of My Being

Once you have accepted that you have a mental illness, you start to make decisions and start realizing that you are more than just your disease. Depression or anxiety doesn’t define the person you are. You’ll realize that you are capable of anything a regular person is competent with and you won’t let your illness get in the way of your success. “It’s important to underscore here the importance of monitoring your mental health and knowing how different medications and lifestyle changes can impact your mental health.” A remidner from Julia Hogan, LCPC.

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Going To Therapy

You need to get up and make yourself go to therapy if you want to overcome your mental illness. You’ll find out soon enough that treatments are not something you should be embarrassed about but be proud of doing. Therapy can help you cope with your emotions and help you figure out how to avoid triggers to your negative emotions. And lastly, you have somebody to talk to and get all your feelings out, and that will be a great relief.

Therapy can also be done online through BetterHelp. There are specialists within the website that can help you with your mental health issues.

Starting Medication

Sometimes, when you are going on therapy, your doctor will also recommend that you take medications and this is not a bad thing. Medication will help you get better faster partnered with your scheduled therapy sessions. Also, drugs are not a life-long treatment. If you cure your mental illness, you wouldn’t need therapies and medications anymore.

Getting The Diagnosis

Getting diagnosed is not something to be ashamed of, especially in this century wherein mental health help is advocacy. It is another step to be able to understand where your emotions and thoughts are coming from so you could figure out a way to help yourself and cure your mental illness.

Changing My Mindset

Changing the way you see yourself and your mental illness will give you a better chance to be better. Instead of letting yourself down because of a small setback, think about how far you had come when you first started battling your illness.

Reaching Out To Others For Support

Telling people who are close to you about your struggles will also help them understand what you are going through and will help them figure out ways to support your decisions. Having someone by your side while you are going through something serious can give you comfort and confidence to continue with your treatments.

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What Won’t Work

Self-Harming And Negative Thoughts

Hurting yourself will not help you eliminate those negative emotions, your feeling. It will only add to the pain you are feeling, and that will never make you feel any better. Avoid self-harm at all costs and look for someone to talk to when you feel like hurting yourself.

Alcohol Consumption

Drinking yourself until you are numb and drunk will only help you temporarily, and this might even trigger other illnesses if you drink in excess. Having a healthy outlet to let your emotions go is a better option than making yourself numb with alcohol.

Guilt And Shame

It is not your fault that you have a mental illness, so don’t guilt yourself. Do not be ashamed if you are struggling with your disease; other people are going through something similar, too. Reassure yourself that it’s not your fault and get the help you need so you won’t have to suffer for long.

Remember always to help yourself and put yourself first so you can get better. Take care of your mind and body, and you will surely combat your mental illness sooner.