Ask Anything Monday!

[Shaz51]

Hi , welcome to the forum

as soon as I try to sit down and read a book or complete a task that needs my concentration, I can't focus on it for more than a few minutes. --  My husband does this , but he starts to go to sleep ,I would say to go see your Doctor about it

My Husband won`t go to the docor so he has stopped reading because of this ,

[NikNik]

Happy Monday everyone!

A big thanks to @Shaz51 @Kurra @1stepup61 @Former-Member @Former-Member & @Robertmelbourne for responding to last week's question. This week's Ask Anything Monday question is:

Hi, I would like to ask: I want to accept I have a mental illness, if that makes sense? Perhaps it's about accepting myself, being unwell, like if I was diagnosed as a diabetic, I go ok! Time to change my diet, take my insulin on time etc, but accepting a mental health diagnosis seems harder for me to accept?

I have been diagnosed with Major Clinical Depression and this time I voluntary admitted myself to hospital. When I look back over the years I have had depression before, plus GAD, OCD, PTSD, now all diagnosed and I have worked hard to understand myself and what made me this way, so now I want to focus on function, do all the things for myself I have denied myself in the past. But maybe I start today by asking this question, " How do I accept myself with a mental illness, so I can learn what I can do to get well, what do you think?" Thanks

[Former-Member]

I really struggled with this, in fact I still really struggle with it.

I guess the important thing to remember is that your mental illness hasn't changed you as a person. You are still the great, vibrant, interesting person you were before the illness, just now you have some added interesting bits.

You are now hopefully aware that you need to take care of yourself a little bit more, and if anything mental illness can give you a permission to be kinder to yourself, an opportunity to focus on you and your needs for a change.

A lot of people with mental illness are often quite sensitive, gentle souls. It makes it harder with depression, but it also means that you are more understanding and empathic. Kind of like yin and yang, each aspect has its positives and negatives.

Hope this helps!

Oh, and don't worry if it takes time or you occasionaly beat yourself up about having a MI. We all do it sometimes, but tomorrow's a new day and full of possibilities.

[Former-Member]

I just wanted to say I think this is a great question. I don't know the answer - I still think most days that I'm making it all up and/or that nothing is wrong and/or I'm just lazy etc. etc. I look forward to others' replies though.

[Former-Member]

Hi All,

That's something that interests me too, so I'll see what others have to say.

Thanks!

[utopia]

I think it's important to recognise that YOU are not your illness.
I am ME and I happen to have Depression & Anxiety. I also happen to be a parent, a sister, a friend, a lover of good books and funny movies & I love gardening.
I also have bad eye sight and allergies. But none of these things define me. And none of these things alone make me the person that I am.
And you are more than your diagnosis. It is one part of you.
I don't know if this helps at all. But please be gentle with yourself. A diagnosis is a label. Just like talkative, shy or intellectual.
I hope you manage to accept ALL OF WHO YOU ARE.
Good luck

[Former-Member]

I'm no expert but from a couple of decades of trying to get a grip on my own MI, i'd like to throw out a few ideas for discussion.

As with any physical illness we focus on the organ and how to keep it functioning at its best. I'm tempted to say MI is when 'the brain' is malfunctioning, but that wouldn't be accurate either as a person can have serious brain trauma & and still not have a MI.

We know what 'illness' is but what is our understanding of 'mental?'

MENTAL wikipedia says: "A mental disorder (also called a mental illness, psychiatric disorder, or psychological disorder) is a diagnosis of a BEHAVIOURAL OR MENTAL PATTERN that may cause suffering or a poor ability to function in life"
It goes on to say that there are many mental health disorders differentiated by specific signs and symptoms.

So, to answer the question, I'd say its the way we think, perceived, process, interpret life & respond to it. A diagnosis is foe the purpose of treatment really, not just chemical but in the way we think by education, research, learning new coping skills, therapy etc

Just a thought 📖📚🔦🌱

[1stepup61]

Hi Utopia, i liked your answer about your illness not being the total sum of who you are and that there were other parts of you that likes to love, laugh and live your life your way. i have forgotten those parts of myself. Maybe thats the question i could be asking myself which is; what interests me hobby wise that i might be able to develop and meet like minded people? I suppose mental illness has changed me and my life and i guess this can be an opportunity to buld my life again from the inside out and be able to choose my life, be real rather than previously hiding my nervous struggles, keeping up appearances! So, i guess i can accept my mental illness diagnosis and as you say realise that is only a part of me and i have been given an opportunity to find out the rest of me! Thanks for your reply. Bye and take care of you! Step-up. 🙂

[1stepup61]

Hi Bec, thanks for your reply. I feel my last breakdown has changed me, because i cant work or be around lots of people and my brain cant multitask like it use to, my life has to be slow,not drink alcohol etc. But the way i was, was not good for me and now i have a chance to be real and not go down the same path that avoidance takes me, when i cant face the truth about myself. So, i guess i am saying there is no point me fighting the diagnosis anymore, because it hasnt worked for me in the past, so maybe this is my time to be kind to myself and enjoy the next journey because me being hard on myself was not enjoyable. thanks, bye for now. Step-up.

[1stepup61]

Hi Tawney, Mmmm! What is mental illness? i liked your answer about when we are ill we usually focus on the organ that's sick to get better! Its just the location of ours, brain! The question scientists have been asking for awhile, "nature versus nurture?" I think its a bit of both, plus the new things we are processing from the news around us each day, it can be scary! But i think what i have learnt here from reading all the forums, is there are a lot of labels out there i can put on myself, let alone what others think of MI & i just add them as well. i guess what i am thinking its a bit of that nursery rhyme, sticks and stones & really its still the same answer really, they can only hurt me if i let them? Because i am not a kid anymore, not powerless to bigger, older people. i am my own boss and i will carry on, at least i know whats going on with me and i will always prefer to be me now, than anybody out there being mean to others because of their disabilities or illness! I was bullied in my job, by people i new for many years when my diagnosis came out, but i did not stand up for myself, i was to scared then, but i am not the same cowering person anymore & their reaction shows who they really are and if that didn't happen to me i would still be there seeking their approval, because i thought i was worthless, when really their mean reactions were worthless not me! So, i will be proud i have come so far to get well and accept me! thanks, step-up.