Thanks. To me thereŽs a big difference between feeling ill and being mentally ill as to me the latter says you have an illness, often showing already in childhood when it comes to psychiatric conditions, and that youŽll live with such a condition for your whole life.
Feeling mentally ill is to me feeling hopelessness, sadness, feeling very low and not being able to make any difference even if you try. Then you turn to medication and/or a therapist but usually you donŽt see a therapist for the rest of your life, that is to me feeling mentally ill is something you can work on and get through with the right help.
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Originally Posted by here today
Thanks for your honest and thought-provoking post, Sarah. I can definitely relate to the title of this thread. I think feeling inferior and unsuccessful makes me feel mentally ill, too.
Where's the dividing line, if there is one? And which comes first? Is feeling mentally ill the same as actually being mentally ill? It certainly feels that way. And when you feel terrible -- mentally or physically -- it's very difficult to function well even if one otherwise had the talents to succeed. Which, in my case, I both did and didn't because -- despite outward appearances and some strengths I was also kind of fractured inside due to long ago trauma.
So I finally got the trauma dealt with, I think -- at least to the point that I'm not so fractured.
But, still, in my case, having been inferior and unsuccessful (and maybe mentally ill) for many years now does that mean I will be forever? It feels like that sometimes. And yes that it IS how it feels. But is that what will actually happen? I don't know for sure yet.
I hope the new therapist can help you although I know, based on your previous experiences with therapists after the first on, that it's possible they may not. Here's hoping, though!!! And if not this one, the next -- or something else!  |