mental illness recovery

11/4/22

hello cherubs!

mental illness is not something that is easy. anyone that struggles with any type of mental illness knows that there are times when we don't know if we'll make it through the day.

like we've learned in recent blog posts, mental illness does not discriminate. it can take hold in any person, in any place, at any time.

here are some common misconceptions of mental illnesses:

• people with mental illnesses are dangerous

• people with mental illnesses want attention

• medications for mental illnesses are dangerous

• getting help for mental illness is easy

• people with mental illness are manipulative

• therapy traumatizes people more than it's helpful

• mental illness can be cured by fitness and food

• mental health only concerns sick people

• mental illness is a mindset problem

all of these are myths made up by people who think people choose to have mental illnesses. and this is a hard part of mental illness recovery. when you are trying extremely hard to get better for yourself and someone tells you negative things about your situation or says hurtful things like "you're faking it," it can be a major setback and can even cause a relapse in struggles.

there are two keys to recovery:

1. first, you recognize the disordered voice in your head and the lies it's telling you.

2. and then, not giving up fighting even when the urges are unbearably strong and it feels impossible not to act on them.

during mental illness recovery, there are things you need and things that you don't need, but they might be hard to identify at first.

here's a list to hopeful help get you started:

what you need:

• rest & quality sleep

• new coping skills

• time to heal & figure it out

• heaps of love & support

• self-compassion

• a therapist, doctor, and/or good self-help resources

• letting people help & look after you

what you don't need:

• staying up late

• unhealthy ways of coping

• more on your 'to do' list

• unsupportive people

• constant self-criticism

• believing that things will never be better for you

• regularly isolating the people you love

remember, healing is not linear. you will stumble and you might even fall back into old ways. but the best thing you can do is to keep trying.

what if it's all okay? the best what if scenarios are the ones that haven't happened yet, like...

• what if things work out?

• what if your hard work pays off?

• what if nothing bad happens?

• what if you enjoy yourself?

• what if you succeed?

• what if you can cope & get through?

• what if you prove yourself, your irrational thoughts, and your worries wrong?

---

so let's strive to normalize therapy, normalize medication, and normalize bettering ourselves. you cannot pour from an empty cup. in order to help others, you must first help yourself.

you deserve to be here & I'm so glad you're here(:

xx Loryn