What is the hardest part of living with mental illness?

We have long observed how people who do not have mental diseases they wonder and question what is the experience of a disorder, and what makes the desired improvement so complicated in people who suffer from it.

Thus, we are going to give three strokes about the difficulties that patients encounter when they have to assume that they have a mental illness.

First of all, being aware of mental illness is challenging.

In the beginning, when someone suddenly experiences psychological symptoms (usually in fits of panic, depression, obsessive compulsive disorder or post-traumatic stress), you go through a stage from psychological and emotional shock in which a certain confusion appears.

During this period the person will understand what exactly is happening to him.

Let's not forget that these diseases are not and do not have to be chronic, there are many treatments that significantly improve the quality of life of people with mental disorders.

The feeling of rejection or social discrimination can also be a big obstacle

When I mention “sensation”, I am not referring to the person making it up, but living it as real, and this is important to listen to. Obviously, if the rejection is tacit, the complications are greatly aggravated.

Anyone with mental illness deserves support and love, as disorders represent difficulties and do not make someone worse or better, that is already taken care of by people, not diseases.

Living with the feeling of not deserving any better for who they are

"Because of being so nervous I will never work on what I'm passionate about", "she left me to isolate myself, I don't deserve to be loved", "I don't think I'm capable of doing anything in life."

These thoughts appear many times because "who am I" is often confused with "what's wrong with me." I put a lot of emphasis in the first sessions on this, because it makes the difference between working for solve internal problems and get life back, or try to change the person to do things best. If someone tries to change herself, she will inevitably defend herself, greatly increasing unnecessary suffering.

Bibliographic references:

• Cabanyes, J., Monge, M.A. (2010) Mental health and its care.
• Myers, J.E.; Sweeny, T.J.; Witmer, J.M. (2000). «The wheel of wellness counseling for wellness: A holistic model for treatment planning. Journal of Counseling and Development (tr. it is. "The wheel of well-being and counseling") ». Journal of Counseling and Development.
• Public Health and Health Education (2001). "Letter from Ottawa."