Let's Talk About Mental Illness
A couple days ago, I posted on my Instagram story asking followers what my next blog post should be about. There was a recurring topic that you guys were interested in reading about, so, here ya go!
Mental health.
This is actually a perfect time to discuss such a topic as it is mental health awareness month. Therefore, I am pleased to write this post given the coincidental circumstances.
Now, mental health is a BIG topic. People can discuss all of the different illnesses, how to overcome them, symptoms, self-care, etc. I’m only going to focus on a few aspects of it. This post is going to be about what I know of mental health, what I do to combat symptoms, and a list of resources I’ve found that have helped me a lot (they might not be exactly what you were expecting!).
Before we dive in, I want to make a few things clear. I am by no means a mental health expert. I have had my share of experiences and I can only speak on behalf of those. I have struggled with depression since middle school, however I never wanted to admit it for what it was.
I’ve never been clinically diagnosed. And I’ve never been to therapy. This year was the first time I actually called out my depression for what it is, and that was back in January.
Alongside depression, I struggle with something called “maladaptive daydreaming.” It is not considered a disorder by the DSM-5 (the most recent American Psychiatric book of disorders), however, it has almost every trait necessary to be considered one. Maladaptive daydreaming is exactly what it sounds like: it’s excessive daydreaming to the point of negative interference in one’s life.
(I’ve actually been working on a small ebook version of this topic for a few months now. Surprise! Here’s a project reveal! Though, life and depression have stunted much progress on it, thus far).
So, these are my personal mental illnesses and below is a collection of my experiences and what I know on how to (sort of) combat them!
Disclaimer: All of the views and opinions in this post are solely my own and are not sponsored.
What I know of mental health
Mental health is all about the state and condition our minds are currently in. When people refer to a “healthy” mind, they’re really referring to a mental state that receives no detriments that could interfere with the physical self.
A healthy mind wouldn’t be plagued by fear, doubt, sadness, stress, anxiety, unorganized thoughts, irrational feelings, etc. Common mental illnesses (that prevent the mind from being placed on a “healthy” scale) include depression, anxiety, and OCD. And on a more extreme scale: bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, dementia.
This is what I know of mental health.
If a person is experiencing an emotion or thought that prevents them from functioning normally in his/her life, then there is a mental illness at root.
I’ve struggled with depression for years. And even today, those who know about the condition don’t necessarily understand it. I can tell you everything I know of depression and how it’s affected me, but I can’t convince you to understand the logic behind a depressed person's thoughts or actions. I tend to isolate myself when depressed. I cancel on people and plans. I cry a lot. I text back “I’m too sad” too often. I lay around and sleep or waste my time only to regret it later.
I’ve dealt with suicidal thoughts. I’ve struggled to get out of bed and take care of myself. I’ve forgotten to eat or drink water. The list of how depression has negatively affected me can go on for awhile.
I think it’s important for people to recognize the symptoms, the struggles, and the thoughts/emotions behind each mental illness. I’ll list a few below but these are only a few of many. Educate yourself. Learn about what others define as “mental illness” or “mental health.” The hardest part, for me, from struggling with depression was never my will to live, but my will to convince others why I have to fight for such a thing.
- Inside Depression
- Beginners guide to anxiety
“The hardest part, for me, from struggling with depression was never my will to live, but my will to convince others why I have to fight for such a thing.”
How do we combat illnesses we can’t see?
If I take out the “how” in the statement above, the question seems more aligned to what I’m about to say. Do we combat illnesses we can’t see? Is it possible? Or, is our only trick staving it off for awhile?
For years, I’ve used daydreaming as a coping mechanism with my depression. Little did I know that maladaptive daydreaming is a disorder all its own. Beyond that, I’ve found expression through art and poetry. I put my thoughts towards projects and creation.
I combat my mental illness by giving myself no time to be alone and quiet with my thoughts. The happiest I am in work, home, relationships, you name it, is always when I am busy. I need to keep my mind and body preoccupied. Just, not enough that I get too stressed from it all.
When it comes to combating mental illness, EVERYBODY is different. Techniques that work for me won’t work for someone else. And some techniques for others won’t work for me.
We can’t erase a mental illness. We can medicate. We can go to therapy. We can busy/distract ourselves. We can put that energy into other things. But there is no magic eraser. The truth is, it’s not so much about overcoming mental illnesses to reach a healthy state of mind, but more of finding a way to dilute and control what reactions and actions we do partake in relation to our illnesses.
“We can’t erase a mental illness.”
I’ve been doing a ton of reading recently about journaling. A lot of sources are saying the same thing: that journaling can be a way we combat mental illness. I write poetry. I write scenes and moments, short stories. I haven’t been able to “get into” journaling (for whatever reason). But journaling can come across different for everyone and maybe it’s okay that my entries would all be poetry and fictional stories.
Listed below are a few links to journaling sites/articles that have inspired me. Feel free to check them out!
Journaling isn’t for everyone, but it’s the first and only suggestion I can make towards offering any ways to combat mental illness. Everyone is different. You just have to find what works for you and stick to that.
- Seasonjours @seasonjours on instagram
- @bookishsmaug on Instagram
Resources that have helped me
Above, I’ve already listed a few resources that depict what mental illness is/what it’s like, and journaling inspiration. Now, I want to list and draw out more in depth opinions on some sources that have made a BIG change in my life. And as I said in my opening, not all of them are going to be what you might expect!
Pinterest
Pinterest is honestly my go to browser. I’m not joking. I think I live on Pinterest. This social media platform has helped me learn more about my depression and maladaptive daydreaming than any other I’ve browsed. I use Pinterest for educational purposes and for inspiration. Remember how I said I combat depression by staying busy? Well, this platform ALWAYS has a creative idea/hobby that you can start up!
Book browsing (in a store)
This isn’t so much a resource as it is an idea to help you “step away” from your illness for a bit. Browsing bookstores is a great way to get out of the house without overwhelming yourself. These places are always quiet, relaxing, warm, and welcoming. You aren’t required to buy anything. You can just peruse the shelves or maybe look for a specific book you want. I love reading and writing. Maybe that’s why this is such a beneficial resource for me. Sometimes I just wander the store aimlessly and leave. Sometimes I sit in their mental health or wellness section and read a little. Sometimes I intentionally search for books I want. Sometimes I buy books. Sometimes I don’t. It’s just nice to get out and look around.
Headspace (app)
Alright, I’m going to start off by saying that though this app isn’t free, it’s worth it. It’s all about mediation and cleansing the mind. For anyone who's ever dealt with a mental illness, THIS IS WHAT YOU NEED IN YOUR LIFE! Meditation, I mean. Headspace offers a bunch of different meditation episodes to help with sleep, anxiety, depression, and beginners to meditation. I personally like guided meditations more than personal ones because it forces me to focus and look into myself with certain questions that I hadn’t thought of on my own.
Daily mood tracking app
I’ve used mood tracking apps in the past and recently I’ve picked it up again. They don’t really help much in the moment, but after a few weeks, they become wonders to understanding our emotions. After using it for awhile, you begin to see patterns. You can see when you’ve dipped low, when you’ve been happy or anxious. And most apps allow you to write notes so you can check to see patterns on how your mood is affected by the outside world. There are so many different apps out there, so I encourage you to go through a few of them before deciding which works best for you!
The journal blog posts I’ve seen
So I won’t go into much detail on this one. I listed above why journaling is helpful, as well as a few links to get started. I don’t journal everyday. But I do write poetry, lists, thoughts, etc. I like to write stories when I journal. It’s certainly a beneficial thing, even if you aren’t a good writer. Nobody has to read what you wrote. It’s for you.
Additional resources I use also include: documentaries, Ted Talks, social interaction, and religious activities.
I hope this provided some inspiration on mental health, how to deal with it, etc. I am no expert, but these are things that have helped me.
If you haven’t already, you should check out my poetry book on Amazon and/or follow me on Instagram! There’s some pretty cool content in both!
Feel free to leave any comments or questions below or email me at info.amelia.wilson@gmail.com! I’ll try to get back as soon as possible!
Disclaimer: All of the views and opinions in this post are solely my own and are not sponsored.
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