Written by: Danielle Nutter
What is the Issue With Mental Illness
At some point in our lives, we will all experience mental hardship. As life dishes out lemon after lemon, it can be challenging to stay resilient. While unexpected situations arise, we try to find ways to cope and overcome them. A number of us wait and allow time to heal our inner pain. Some look outside themselves to relieve their troubles, while others mask their true feelings and act as if nothing is wrong.
Currently, there are millions of people worldwide who harbor a mental illness. Yet, many of them do not seek help. Why? Could it be because they feel pain is a part of life and tolerate, or do they fear judgment as having a weak mind? There are a lot of reasons why people neglect their mental health. But is it wise to allow your mental wellness to go unbalanced?
My Battle With Mental Illness
In my experience with depression, I became angry with myself because I could not come to terms with my breakup and move forward. Day after day, the sadness hovered and interfered with my mental clarity. I refused to think of myself as mentally weak, and I was too embarrassed to reveal to my friends and family that I continued to be troubled about a relationship that had ended ages ago.
The effects of the split upset me deeply. Uncomfortable emotions surfaced and lingered that I did not want to deal with. So, I spent a lot of time running away from my true feelings and hoped that one day time would make my inner struggles disappear. Until then, I took sleeping pills and kept myself busy to escape the pain of my aching heart. Every area of my life was unbalanced! It was difficult for me to work, sleep, eat, interact with others, or physically care for myself. Nothing was enjoyable anymore, and I lost the desire to live. Nonetheless, I still refused to think of myself as mentally unstable!
Step 1: Admit to your problem and that it makes your life unmanageable.
HEAL’N TEES
Heal’n My Mental Illness
Because I was self-medicating, my mental state was not improving. It was time to dig deeper and get honest with myself. Deep inside, I have always known myself to be overly emotional and allowed my feelings to rule me. I swallowed my pride and accepted that my condition was valid. Desperately, I searched to find a way to help myself before I accidentally overdosed.
I hit the internet and read a zillion articles about how to heal a broken heart. They all suggested that I take a good long look at ‘me’ and seek within to find the real reason I was so unhappy. Since all of my previous efforts to heal my heavy heart failed, I took their advice and hired a therapist. I was tired of hurting! Accepting and admitting to myself that I had a problem I could not manage on my own was the starting point of my self-healing journey.
Remember For Your Heal’n
Before you can repair any issue with your deep-rooted self, you must confess that a part of you needs your full attention. Otherwise, if you avoid it or look for fault in others, healing will not occur. Take some time away from all the distractions in your life and spend time alone to identify what needs mending. Be gentle with yourself and commit to your healing.
Your Two Cents…
Are you currently toiling with an issue that you are having difficulty managing? Leave your comment below.