Quote:
Originally Posted by Churchmouse
I know what depression feels like.
as much as they tell me it is a sickness, I can't help but feel like it is my fault, like I could have stopped this, like I am a horrible, weak, lazy, useless person....why has society made me feel this way? Why have I allowed society to make me feel this way? Or is it society at all? Just like people are afraid to admit they have cancer to themselves, to family, to friends...I am afraid to admit that I have a mental illness.
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Mental illness is a medical condition, not a character flaw! The root causes aren't easy to determine--society, perhaps, also traumatic experiences, genetics, environmental factors, and so on...
Admitting to yourself that you have a mental illness will help you confront your problems. I think that if you have confidence in the psychiatric nurse, you should give the meds a chance. If you were diagnosed with diabetes, you probably wouldn't refuse to take insulin.
Admitting to your family and friends will help them understand what you're going through. This doesn't mean that you have to introduce yourself as, "Hi, I'm Churchmouse and I have a mental illness" to everyone you meet.
Laurie makes some great suggestions above about keeping yourself healthy and well-informed. One thing she said that I thought was particularly interesting: "My pdoc has not once talked to me about whether or not I have a recovery plan." Perhaps, as you go through your treatment, you might try to keep your own long-term recovery plan in mind? That's advice that I should take myself...
All the best to you-