World MH Day: What do you wish more people knew about mental health?
@Kate
that having a mental health setback does not make us less able.
that mental health is as important as physical health
Ive made a list so I hope you can relate!
We arent asking for attention.
We cant change how we feel when we want
Mental Health isnt something you can fix over night. Its a life long thing you just learn how to deal with it.
Just because Im generally happy for a little bit doesnt mean I dont have depression or other mental health issues
There isnt always a reason on why people have mental health issues
You cant tell us to just snap out of it
Being sad and being depressed are completely different things.
OCD doesnt just mean they hate mess. Just like how anxiety doesnt just mean you struggle to speak to people
You dont have to be suicidal or self harm to have depression
When we tell you our issues we arent expecting for you to understand. So please dont say it to try and be relatable.
I have a few.
Anxiety is a REAL THING. It
Having a mental health issue is NO different than having any other health issue@Kate
We are not weak. We are stronger and better connected than one would expect. 💪🏻
I wish people knew that mental health is an actual, serious thing, and they can't judge people for having their issues.
They can't just call someone who is suicidal not close enough to God or worse, a sinner.
We want to have a stable life too. We want to have a calm and contented heart too. Some of us want to be close to God too.
There are a lot of complex reasons why we can't achieve them, and they can't say we're not trying.
Wish people would understand that you cant just turn off anxiety or depression.
People need to understand a couple things
1) There are so many types and sub-types of mental health issues. No one has the same exact problems, and so you can't just use one generalized treatment. It needs to be honed to a certain extent to have the person in mind. Yes, the techniques are often the same, but the therapist takes that treatment and makes it so that it works for the person, not the person trying to work with the treatment
2) Literally anyone could have problems with mental heath. *Story time* About a year ago I started struggling with my mental health. Before this I had always been upbeat and carefree, perfect from any scar. And my best friend saw me like that. No issues in the world. So when I started having crippling anxiety, not wanted to get out of bed, she didn't believe that I had a problem, because I was never like that. When I started to beome depressed because of my anxiety and the stress of moving, she didn't believe me. I was good at covering up, and even now most of my friends have no clue that anything could be wrong under my perfect skin. This incident gave me trust issues, unable to tell anyone about what I was going through, in fear of being rejected and not believed.
3) Like everyone is saying, you don't just wake up and decide you want a disease. I would give a lot of things to be able to wake up not depressed, anxious or hate myself. This is simply just not how it works. If I could choose to be stuck to my bed out of fear or walk cheerfully out the door to school, I woud so much rather choose the latter option. People who are worse off then me would probably do anything to get rid of whatever they are going through. I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy, and others are probably the same way, so why would anyone try to inflict this on themselves.
4) Mental disorders are hard, but we aren't babies. Don't treat us as if we are going to burst out crying any second. While someone may need that at one point in their journey, if someone doesn't tell you that they need to be treated gently, then don't treat them gently. Don't act as if they are a toddler, Because we are probably stronger than the person treating us like babies. We have gone through hard times, we are tough people, even if we don't think it. A pink haired middle school girl can and will be tougher and stronger than you, don't treat her like she's five.
5) You, yes you, could get one too. Now that's not to say they are contagious, because they aren't, but don't think it could never happen to you. I never thought that I could ever hate myself enough to want to end my life, but now sometimes I feel that way. You can think "Oh I'd never have to be stuck in bed the entire day because I'm scared that there is an axe murder outside ready to kill me and a dog will randomly attack me on the way to school' but you can be wrong. Like said earlier, anyone can get a mental disorder, so don't think you are immune either, because maybe in a few short months you'll be joining our ranks too.
I wish people knew that it
