Quote:
Originally Posted by LovelaceF
I think people who are struggling with any difficulty whatsoever need sympathy, and empathy from others, if not outright understanding. That is part of what helps someone heal. Sympathy can be difficult to give sometimes though, because it is often very obvious to the person standing outside and looking at the struggling person who has "emotional problems", that this emotionally troubled person is creating their own issues.
People become very upset when they hear advice like:
"Buck up"
"Pull yourself up by your bootstraps"
"Grow a thicker skin"
"Think positive"
What emotionally troubled people sometimes don't realize, though, is that this kind of advice comes from an honest place. It's what others have done to overcome their own emotional difficulties. If you're stuck in a cycle of negative thinking, the solution is quite literally to "think positive".
The broken brain theory absolves people of the responsibility for resolving their own problems, which makes it appealing to some and unappealing to others. Personally, I think that there are some mental health problems that people can solve on their own, and others than cannot be resolved independently. One person may be able to grow a thick skin, and another may need therapy. One person may be able to learn to think positive, while another is helped with medication.
I think that there are many paths to wellness and that one should take which ever path leads them to the best possible quality of life.
|
The issue with this whole thinking positive thing is, if you're in a sh*tty situation like your life pretty much sucks what is there to be so damn positive about? I see no sense in deluding myself that everythings all good when it's not.
Also the broken brain theory is true...sometimes I wonder what people think mental illness/conditions are. I mean yeah it sucks mental disorders can interfere with functioning and behavior...and no it's not the individuals fault that the symptoms interfere with them that way. If people don't like it tough but that is what mental illness is...not having control of your mind, potentially bothering other people with your problems/symptoms/reactions to your own symptoms, doing things you wish you hadn't all because you had no other way to react. Sure to someone that doesn't have it that bad maybe mental illness looks like a great way to be absolved of responsibility...but I doubt they would want all the pain and misery that comes along with it.
I mean it seems people want mental issues not to be a serious thing, its more comforting to believe someone with a mental illness can just control it and not be effected by it....and that they have just as much control as anyone else over certain behavior when that is simply not the case. I think a lot of times people just forget how serious and not so enjoyable having mental problems is...then maybe even feel resentment when that person can't just overcome it or 'grow thicker skin', 'suck it up' or any of that stuff.
Think of it like this telling someone with serious mental issues who struggles to function to grow thicker skin or similar phrases when they express their struggles would be like telling someone missing a leg to grow it back and get up and walk. Or its like telling them they are weak for having mental problems and need to just toughen up or something. Maybe such advice is sometimes given with good intentions but that is why it can be somewhat damaging.