Confessions of Those Affected by Mental Illness!
Mental Illness Awareness Week [MIAW] (October 4th - 10th)
2015 theme: Stigma Free
(Learn what we're doing on 7 Cups for this week here)
People with mental illness have many different stories to tell – of suffering and despair, but also of courage, resilience, hope, and generosity. [Source].
… and we want to hear those stories on 7 Cups!
Some confessions might be triggering, read at your discretion.
Do you have a mental disorder?
There can often be a lot of stigma around a variety of mental illnesses. It can make it very hard to talk about with others. But we want to hear your voice! So please share your story with us, or how stigma makes you feel or affects you, or just anything on your mind about what youre going through - whether on a high or low, if you can.
Do you know others with a mental disorder?
Perhaps there are so many things youd like to know or ask, but youre worried about it or dont know how. Feel free to share whats on your mind through this activity. It may allow you the opportunity to receive responses and support from those with mental disorders.
But why 'confessions'?
Great question! We realise that, for many, mental health can be a challenging topic. One may have many reserves about expressing themselves and vocalising certain things for a number of reasons. 'Confessions' has the connotations that one is acknowledging something for which they feel shame or embarrassed by. We have in mind that we would like to strive to be #StigmaFree and this involves looking at the things associated with shame and so forth. We would like to address it, and through these confessions, offer our support. The idea is to break the silence! So, through this activity, perhaps it can allow one to build up to talking more freely about what's on your mind.
So are confessions only negative?
Most definitely not! We do not have to stick strictly to the idea of confessions being about things one is shameful of. Perhaps it will be on something one is extremely proud off, yet - for whatever reason - hasn't felt able to express, for example. It most definitely does not have to be negative, and it can be a question too. E.g., "I find it hard to accept that my sibling has [mental illness] and is not just [stereotype]. I know that's not the case, so I feel bad for thinking that way. Is there anything I can do to help this?".
Feel free to get creative and use comic scripts, sketches or pictures, etc, to help share your confessions.
Submit your confessions via this form!
Rules:
● Please be respectful of others.
● Do not submit any graphic or inappropriate images or otherwise.
Inappropriate content will not be posted.
Other than that, we look forward to your confessions and offering our support!
edited by Rain45 Moved here due to Forum restructuring
*BUMP*
It's really harsh for me to know that I can't live without this pills. And that I have borders inside of me that I can't crush down. AHDH was with my all my life and will never leave me alone.
There are times where I can't think straight, even I try I can't focus on anything. In this situations I try to make something with my hands to distress myself, but when I'm sitting in class writing a test or tryieng to learn I'm so frustated, so desperate I just cry.
@Niamonos you know what we always speak of our deficits but never realized the strengths that we have the fact that you were able to write what you were feeling is a remarkable task. You were able to identify the new want to seek support and advice and then having a circle of this community or others to allow you to propel and move forward is advantageous for you. I encourage you to continue to find the circle that's going to provide the strength for you so that you can be in Courage even if you take pills or don't take pills it is a genetic opportunity for you to have a medical management in order for you to complete the task for your daily life you can do this be encouraged by being you and not by being somebody else!
Even though I know how I'm struggling with depression and anxiety and PTSD, sometimes I feel like I don't deserve to say that I suffer from them because I am so high functioning. I feel like a fake sometimes just because I am capable of getting out of bed when other people aren't. Even though I have been diagnosed and I face internal struggles every day, I have a hard time feeling like I deserve to say I have these issues because I can do so well outwardly.
I did not even know which of two guys was the father when I found myself pregant in 1984
Social anxiety is like one of the worst mental illnesses for me. Why? Im too afraid to tell anyone about my problem, and I'm so bad at explaining things. So basically, I just have to keep all the feelings to myself forever. Unlike other mental illnesses, the person can just tell the psychologist but me, nuh uh! Social anxiety is SO hard to live with everyday I don't even want to live anymore. But its good that I'm letting all my feelings out here in this thread. I feel free... I feel like I can say anything I want and I'm not anxious about that. But when it comes to being in person with someone it sucks. My life sucks. Idk what to do anymore. It's so hard to explain what I'm going through. I just wish I was never born. What's the use of staying on this earth? I can't even explain myself. But I do feel that maybe people will think I'm overeacing so they might not take this seriously. They might think, oh, social anxiety? No biggy! But it is a big f*****g. IHATE THIS FEELING BECAUSE HOW CAN I EXPECT ANYONE TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND ME WHEN I CANT EVEN UNDERSTAND MYSELF!!! CAN I JUST DISAPPEAR FROM THIS WORLD??? THERE'S SERIOUSLY NOTHING ELSE TO DO IN MY LIFE. AND I KEEP ON TELLING MYSELF IT WILL GET BETTER AND ONE DAY ILL GET OVER THIS SOCIAL ANXIETY. WELL F*** THAT! I DONT HAVE HOPE ANYMORE. IVE CRIED ABOUT THIS SOOOO MANY TIMES ALREADY. BUT NOW MY HEART IS TOO HARDENED AND I HAVE TO KEEP IT ALL INSIDE. FOR SOME REASON I CANT CRY ANYMORE.... UGHHHHHHHHHH.
@Skyfrappe
Update: im recovering from social anxiety and yes, it's actually possible
I stopped taking my Seroquel cold turkey - somehow coped with the withdrawals for 4 day feeling like death, before I packed it in and went to the emergency room, when the triage nurse asked me what was wrong all I did was put my head on the table and say ' help '. They sent down a psych nurse
Saying "help" is probably one of the best things I've done throughout my career because if I hadn't reached out for help, I might not be alive today. Thank you for sharing and I wish you the best of luck. Feel free to reach out whenever.
I find it difficult to leave the house
I find it hard to go out in the day. I feel ugly most days. I feel like like every imperfection is magnified in the light. If I'm with someone, which is rarely, I feel like they can see everything that is wrong with me. I feel like people are staring at me.I don't hear voices and I don't know if it's insecurity or paranoia. How can I tell? After a short period of time I need to go back inside my home. I keep my room very dark.I hate to see myself in the mirror.
I am having a very low self esteem. I carry too much of guilt. I always fear I might hurt some other if I cant help them with what they need. I never give improtance to my own needs. I always looking for appreciation and approval from others and I feel I start questioning myself if I am doing the right thing until I get a feedback from others. This stops me from trying what I want to do and I keep doing things thats important to people around me. This is spopiling my relationship with my wife. I feel lonely. Feel loke everyone in the world is against me.
I dont share my problems and feelings with others as I feel that might make them unhappy. Even with my parents, spouse and close friends I think a lot before sharing my thoughts.
Please help I am dying everyday.
7 Cups Anonymous Confession Regarding Mental Illness
My generalized anxiety/panic disorder has made my job 10x harder but I'm glad I reached out for help and saw a Psychologist about it. Although life is very different for me today, I'd like to think that reaching out for help was the smartest decision I've made so far.
I encourage those who are afraid of rejection/critisizm/judgement to simply say "You know what? Something isn't right and even though my life might never be the same, speaking up and reaching out for help is better than staying silent and watching life pass me by. Today, I'm going to choose to take care of myself."
It might be a challange but the reward at the end is worth it. Your actions towards self-care might encourage others to do the same.
