What is the hardest part of living with a mental illness?

It is not easy to live with a disorder. Society still carries prejudice and stigma.

We have observed for a long time how people who do not have mental illness wonder and question what it is like to live with a disorder, and what makes the desired improvement in people with a disorder so complicated.

For this reason, we are going to give three hints about the difficulties that the patients find when they have to assume that they have a mental illness..

Firstly, being aware of a mental illness is a challenge.

At first, when someone suffers psychological symptoms suddenly (common in panic attacks, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder), they go through a stage of psychological and emotional shock in which a certain confusion appears.

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

Let us not forget that these illnesses are not and do not have to be chronic, there are many treatments that considerably improve the quality of life of people with mental disorders.There are many treatments that considerably improve the quality of life of people with mental disorders.

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

When I mention "sensation", I am not referring to the person inventing it, but rather that he/she experiences it as real, and this is important to hear. Obviously, if the rejection is tacit, the complications become much worse.

Any person with mental illness deserves support and affection, since disorders represent difficulties and do not make someone worse or better, that is what people are in charge of, not illnesses.

Living with the feeling of not deserving anything better because of who they are

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

These thoughts often appear because people tend to confuse "who I am" with "what is wrong with me". I emphasize this a lot in the first sessions, because it makes the difference between working to solve internal problems and recover life, or trying to change the person so that he/she can do things better. If someone tries to change themselves, they will inevitably fight back, greatly increasing unnecessary suffering.

Bibliographical 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. es. "The wheel of wellness and counseling")". Journal of Counseling and Development.
• Public Health and Health Education (2001). "Ottawa Charter."