[muffinhead]

I've talked to several people about my disorder, and some have concluded that mental illnesses and disorders are completely within the control of the individual, which has left me a bit angry and upset. The idea that I can simply will myself out of it and become a happy individual, suggested by those people, maddens me greatly.

[kaliope]

i was talking to my sister last week and see said my doctors were frauds and i could get better on my own if i only wanted to so i know what you are talking about.

[gayleggg]

I agree, but you can't change some people's minds, no matter how irritating they are.

Certain conditions can be *treated* but not cured. Ignorance and stupidity are permanent

[Sinking Feeling]

well you can always break their arm and ask them to make themselves all better,,, NO just kidding don't do that

But basically mental illness is no different then physical illnesses, both are out of our control to will away.

[Crazy Hitch]

Hi muffinhead

I completely relate to your post, as I too have encountered this thought process by other individuals.

Unfortunately I can not will my way out of this one.

I can only work closely with my pdoc and T on managing strategies for my disorder.

Be well.

[Webgoji]

Originally Posted by Sinking Feeling

well you can always break their arm and ask them to make themselves all better,,, NO just kidding don't do that

But basically mental illness is no different then physical illnesses, both are out of our control to will away.

^This!

But yeah, you can't just "will" cancer away so why is mental illness any different?

[eskielover]

No matter what the illness, there are always skills to be learned to make the illness more controllable & have less negative effects on life.

Physical issues many can be better controlled through diet & exercise. Many mental illnesses, or even syndromes, the person can learn skills & awareness that can help lessen the negative effects.

Everything takes work on our part to make those things a part of our daily lives. There can always be some level of improvement even on the Autism spectrum unless the person is totally NON-functional......but when someone says it's me & I can't/won't change...that is their choice or the fact that they may not have found the right help but if you don't search for the help you will NEVER find it.

[muffinhead]

Originally Posted by eskielover

No matter what the illness, there are always skills to be learned to make the illness more controllable & have less negative effects on life.

Physical issues many can be better controlled through diet & exercise. Many mental illnesses, or even syndromes, the person can learn skills & awareness that can help lessen the negative effects.

Everything takes work on our part to make those things a part of our daily lives. There can always be some level of improvement even on the Autism spectrum unless the person is totally NON-functional......but when someone says it's me & I can't/won't change...that is their choice or the fact that they may not have found the right help but if you don't search for the help you will NEVER find it.

I never did say that it was totally out of my control. I was voicing my opinion that there will always be a part of me that, no matter how well medicated and conditioned I am, will never go away. I do understand that striving to better yourself is a key part of the process towards becoming more functional.

[Hellion]

That mentality annoys me a lot to...but I try to really keep in mind that they really don't understand, and probably don't mean anything by it. Though when people get pushy about it then I might feel like they are intentionally trying to upset me or at least pushing their nose too far into my personal business which feels invasive.

[Homeira]

I sometimes run into that attitude, and it used to really bother me a lot when I was told that it was all in my head, and that all I needed to do was just to pull myself together. Over the past year, I have learned to accept that the people who are saying this to me are people who care about me. It is simply the only way they know how to help me. Of course, they dont know that this sort of completely unscientific advice is not productive at all. But I try to be patient whenever I come across it, hard as that might be! I sometimes try to explain, but a lot of the time it doesnt seem to penetrate.

[avlady]

no one can will themselves better. just try that and you'll be in a in worse rut than how you were before you get help. i've often been told by several people that it is all in my head. little do they know it is in my head, psysically, there are reasons my brain isn't like theirs, there is something not right pshysically in it. that is why there is doctors and research done.

[LittleEarthquakes]

This is why I don't like to tell people about my disorders. People never know what to say.

[Seeker101]

I can relate to what you all are saying. I used to think I could will it away. My dad thinks it's all in my head and I just need to be stronger. But, then again, he doesn't think headaches or menstrual cramps are anything to moan about, either.

I'm here to tell you, I've been suffering for years, undiagnosed, thinking that if I had a positive attitude, if I kept my mind busy, if I prayed about it, if I meditated, if I improved my diet, if I took more vitamins..... That I could get to being better.

So, now. I begin my journey toward wholeness. I have made contact and I am in crisis counseling. Hopefully, I will qualify for Medicaid, and then I hopefully can get more intensive care. My suffering has been long standing. I thought I could outwit it. And I thought that because I was brought up that way. No one in my family has a mental issue! Suck it up. Stiff upper lip! Any of that sound familiar, too?

I briefly told my dad about the counseling when he called on Friday. Huge mistake. He thinks I don't need it. Typical.

The stigma attached to mental health is ....is.... Aggravating! I agree, if you broke your arm, would it be treated like mental health is treated? No.

My apologies for my mini rant. I'm on the same page.

[bubbles00]

it usually goes something like this

[IchbinkeinTeufel]

You and I both. Although, sometimes it is just a matter of will, strength, courage, blah blah blah, but that doesn't make someone weak nor does it mean their mental health issues are any less serious; important.

Lately I've been doing so much to get out of my comfort zone, to beat social anxiety, to feel like I'm going forward in life... the changes I've made on my own terms, has changed me for the better. Do I still struggle? Of course, but I've improved and hopefully will continue to do so. When you've got the sorta problems we have, it's very easy to feel beaten; to give up. It's important to keep fighting, so we can ge the most from our lives; you only get one.

I don't think I could've made the jumps I've made had it not been for supported housing, financial support, support from my friends and family, therapy, medication, etc. Or maybe I'm underestimating myself, but I bet it would've taken ages.

Do I think you can cure things like depression any time by simply... not being depressed? Of course not. xD That's why I laffed when I saw that image above.

You know what drives me? Life. There's only one; it's short as buggery. I wanna get what I can out of it. I already have a lot of regrets; I don't want more.