Misconceptions Surrounding Mental Illness

With Mental Illness Awareness Week occurring this week and with World Mental Health Day on October 10, I wanted to talk about misconceptions surrounding mental illness.

Mental illness is an uncomfortable topic for many people. I find there are usually 3 reactions. The first is avoidance from those who are uncomfortable talking about it. The second is that of understanding about mental illness and these individuals are generally supportive. The last reaction is quietly admitting that they have been struggling with mental health and they want to talk about it more.

Why Talk About Mental Illness

Why talk about mental illness? My experience over the last few years has come with a fair amount of trauma. It was from a toxic work environment and lack of boundaries on my part. I hit a point of physical and mental burnout which came with mental illness struggles. By seeking professional help over time I became well again.

I still struggle with moments of mental illness, especially regarding anxiety and depression. But I have learned some important lessons from the trauma and through recovery. There are still scars, but I believe these scars are part of my story.  This gives me an understanding where I can love others and support them through their mental illness struggles.

Misconceptions Surrounding Mental Illness

I used to have a lot of misconceptions surrounding mental illness. After going through some mental health challenges, I realized that I waited too long to get help because of my beliefs about mental illness.

My biggest misconception was that mental illness only applied to people with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or an eating disorder. But this is definitely not the case. When looking at world statistics for mental illness, the major categories include depression, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, alcohol use, and drug use.

As I talk about mental illness misconceptions, please understand that I am talking from my own experience with mental health and mental illness. My experience does not include some of the more long-term mental illnesses that may require professional intervention and a lifetime of treatment. My intention is to talk about some of things I experienced as I moved from mental illness to mental wellness. I want to talk about these misconceptions to bring awareness. Especially to those of us that may be struggling with our mental health but have not yet been diagnosed with a mental illness condition.

Signs of Mental Illness

There are some symptoms of mental illness that I believe are considered acceptable in our society. Things like drinking too much, working too much, and controlling behavior are often seen as positives in the corporate world. The work hard, play hard mentality does not encourage mental wellness. My experience in those environments was that behaviors that lead to mental illness were often encouraged and even rewarded. Lack of balance and self-medicating behavior was seen as leading and achieving instead of being seen for what it was, symptoms of a deeper problem, potentially mental illness.  

People are Afraid to Talk About Mental Illness

People are afraid to talk about mental illness because of the reaction of others. It takes a lot of bravery to talk about it.  I worry about talking about it as I wonder if it will affect my ability to stay employed. I have experienced rejection from those that don’t understand mental illness. But at some point we need to step out and share our story so that we are able to help others.

Physical Health vs. Mental Health

The irony is in our society there is so much focus on our physical health. Hours spent at the gym are considered a good thing. Showing off your muscles and physically toned body is considered acceptable and celebrated. But in our society, talking about mental health seems to bring so much awkwardness, shame and avoidance. Being mentally healthy means becoming whole, high functioning, and living in a way that is congruent with your values. But I often feel like I should be ashamed to talk about it. 

In a world where the external is always focused on makes me frustrated. It’s the most inauthentic way to judge a person, but in our society, it seems to be the only part that matters. My experience has been that often the people that seem to have it perfectly together are usually the people whose lives are imploding.  Being mentally healthy requires vulnerability and it takes work. I believe it takes a lot more work than being physically fit. It is being intentional and mindful in every interaction and every moment in our lives. 

Mental Illness is Not Forever

Mental illness does not mean that we stay mentally ill forever. It may require professional help for the rest of our lives or it may be a few years of getting help to get us back on track. Just because we may have an addiction or a mental illness doesn’t mean that it is the end.

I see it the same way as a broken bone. You have experienced trauma and need help to heal, but it is possible to get better. There may be a scar or an indicator of the injury, but that doesn’t mean that you will never heal.

As bones take time to heal, when we have trauma, this also takes time to heal. The more quickly and effectively we can seek help, the sooner we can heal. Everyone is on a different timeline and everyone handles trauma differently, but mental illness is not necessarily forever.

We may have triggers and things that can set us back on our journey to mental wellness, but that doesn’t mean that being mentally ill is a reality that we have to live with. We all have the choice whether we’re willing to do the work to get mentally healthy or if we choose to stay in the trauma. It sometimes doesn’t feel like a choice, but this is where professional help comes in. By getting help, we can get back to good mental health, becoming more mindful and focused on what we want for our lives.   

How About You?

Have you ever had biases regarding mental illness? Are you struggling with mental illness in your own life? I would love to hear what you think about this article and your own journey with mental illness.  You can either leave a comment below or contact me directly.

I hope that you are able to find awareness and mindfulness this week and are able to improve your mental health this week.