Your Mental Illness Doesn’t Define You

Everyone has different struggles in life. Some people deal with chronic anxiety or panic attacks, while other individuals struggle with depression. Just because you have a mental illness doesn’t make you less than anybody else. Some people struggle more with mental health issues than others. If you are living with a mental illness, it’s important to focus on who you are as a person in totality. Here are misconceptions about mental illness and how you can correct them in your mind.

“My anxiety makes me annoying.”

One common misconception that people with anxiety have is that they’re bothering people. Remember that anxiety is a health condition. It is something that people struggle to manage, just like diabetes or heart disease. You’re not trying to bother people by being anxious. Your mind won’t stop thinking, and you worry about things.

It can be helpful to talk about your anxious feelings with a licensed therapist. Anxiety is manageable if you can figure out ways to cope with your anxious thoughts. When you’re worried about how your behavior impacts another person, it’s best to check with them rather than making assumptions about what they feel.

Anxiety has a tendency to make us think the worst. But, it’s crucial to remember that you can’t read people’s minds. You can educate yourself about anxiety and learn about the different kinds of therapies out there. Click here to learn more.

“Bipolar disorder makes me unstable.”

There are many misconceptions about bipolar disorder. One of them is that people assume that bipolar individuals are unstable. They don’t understand that bipolar disorder can be managed by going to therapy and sticking to a routine.

If you have bipolar, one of the most important things is to see a therapist so that you can talk about your symptoms and make a treatment plan. There are two distinct states and bipolar disorder: mania and depression. However, there are periods where a person with bipolar disorder can appear completely stable.

Just because you fluctuate between two distinct moods doesn’t mean that you’re losing control.
It’s a condition that can be managed with medication and a good therapist.

“Depression means I am lazy.”

People make assumptions about those with depression. One of them is that individuals who struggle with depressed moods are lazy and unmotivated. It’s important to remember that depression is exhausting. It’s difficult to fight with your brain each day.

Your mind is telling you negative things about yourself and the world around you. It’s whispering that there’s no reason to get out of bed. You feel hopeless because of the negative thoughts that are intruding on you. It’s crucial to be compassionate with yourself when you are depressed.

You’re not doing it on purpose. You’re not trying to inconvenience people or appear like you are sitting around doing nothing. In fact, it’s the opposite. Having depression takes a lot of mental and physical effort. So try to be compassionate with yourself.

Learning about mental illness and therapy

You can learn about living with mental illness by talking to a counselor. Whether you speak to somebody in person or online, a therapist can help you cope with any mental health condition. There’s nothing wrong with you because you’re struggling with a mental health challenge. Everyone has their own unique challenges in the world. Learning about yourself and therapy can help you find ways to cope with your individual needs.