In wanting to help people with mental illness, I constantly bump into a problem. How do I inspire without being insulting? As very accurately portrayed in this article/cartoon in Huffington Post, mental illness isn't treated in the same way as physical illness. (Link: http://huff.to/14ImvQJ). I know this because I've been the recipient of many well meaning and ultimately condescending comments as I've dealt with depression. From the friend who told me that I shouldn't worry about not being able to get my anti-depressant medicine because it just isn't important to people who have told me that if I would just change my attitude everything would be great. From people who are compelled to tell me that depression is over-diagnosed and I probably don't need medicine to people who have told me that I just need to believe in Jesus (I am Jewish).
I am obviously very conscious that mental illness is biochemical. I'm also very aware that what works for me is not what works for someone else. And even more importantly, I am aware that telling someone to just get over a mental illness is no more logical than telling someone that they "have to make an effort" to stop vomiting when they have food poisoning. Mental illness is just that...illness. And while recovery does require effort, it isn't like you can change your attitude and
PRESTO! You are cured! Whenever I forget that, I remember Maxine. She couldn't control what was happening with her illness. She needed help. I still remember one conversation in which she expressed horror at the names she was calling my Dad...and was back to the name-calling the next day. It wasn't deliberate. It was her illness talking.
In conclusion, mental illness is physical. It is about your wiring...your biochemistry. The struggle is real. Don't let the way that people condescend to you make you feel ashamed. Look for solutions. Not blame. If you have a physical illness, you recognize you might need help to solve it. The same is true for mental illness. We can support each other into finding the solutions. In the meantime, know that I respect your struggle towards recovery. And I won't tell you to change your attitude. All my love......
I am obviously very conscious that mental illness is biochemical. I'm also very aware that what works for me is not what works for someone else. And even more importantly, I am aware that telling someone to just get over a mental illness is no more logical than telling someone that they "have to make an effort" to stop vomiting when they have food poisoning. Mental illness is just that...illness. And while recovery does require effort, it isn't like you can change your attitude and
PRESTO! You are cured! Whenever I forget that, I remember Maxine. She couldn't control what was happening with her illness. She needed help. I still remember one conversation in which she expressed horror at the names she was calling my Dad...and was back to the name-calling the next day. It wasn't deliberate. It was her illness talking.
In conclusion, mental illness is physical. It is about your wiring...your biochemistry. The struggle is real. Don't let the way that people condescend to you make you feel ashamed. Look for solutions. Not blame. If you have a physical illness, you recognize you might need help to solve it. The same is true for mental illness. We can support each other into finding the solutions. In the meantime, know that I respect your struggle towards recovery. And I won't tell you to change your attitude. All my love......
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