[PrisonBound]

Sometimes I wish I had a physical problem and not a mental one.

I know...crazy, right?

The thing is, my health is good. I'm in good shape. I run. A lot. It helps with my depression and my OCD is playing a part in how much I run (I'm discussing in therapy)

At least w a physical illness, people SEE it usually, or at least understand it better. IDK, just venting I guess. I try to be positive. I of course don't want anything physically wrong w me, but some days, this mental thing I struggle with feels like the worst thing on the planet. We all have our crosses to bear, I suppose

[110.011]

Not too crazy, in my opinion. I frequently wish I could TRADE my mental problems for something less "shameful" or "fake" according to societal norms. I've been quite frustrated by this recently because my problems keep interrupting what I'm trying to do in life; trying to explain extended absences without lying but without revealing the whole mental illness thing is really complicated!

It makes me want to escape my current situations for new ones to have a fresh start, so to speak. Unfortunately, I know that has (at least) 2 problems: 1. it is just evading the problem, and 2. it will only work until my next essentially inevitable disappearance.

I hear you.

[MotownJohnny]

Absolutely. I agree with both of you. I would rather be dying physically than mentally.

[gayleggg]

Well I have both right now. I have a massive blood clot in my leg, that hasn't improved since August. I'm terrified they are going to put me in the hospital and I'm terrified of needles and such, so right now I'm not sure I would choose the physical over the mental health. Generally I would have agreed until it came to having a physical illness. You are right about it making it easier to explain absences, but the fear is terrible.

[vans1974]

Originally Posted by PrisonBound

Sometimes I wish I had a physical problem and not a mental one.

I know...crazy, right?

The thing is, my health is good. I'm in good shape. I run. A lot. It helps with my depression and my OCD is playing a part in how much I run (I'm discussing in therapy)

At least w a physical illness, people SEE it usually, or at least understand it better. IDK, just venting I guess. I try to be positive. I of course don't want anything physically wrong w me, but some days, this mental thing I struggle with feels like the worst thing on the planet. We all have our crosses to bear, I suppose

I agree with you, I'd rather have a physical problem over a mental one!

[-jimi-]

Grass is always greener...

The deepest despair of my mental issues is worse than my physical issues, I'll give you that... but...

You think you will be understood if you have a physical illness. I have one or two or three depending on how you see things. To be understood for your physical illness it must show. People must also have knowledge of it. People also must have felt fear of the illness or felt something similar so they can relate.

Many illnesses don't show on the outside. Many illnesses people have not even heard about. Also, people think if you have a physical illness, take pills and feel better.

My illness don't show. It has a stupid name (autoimmune overlap syndrome with lupus traits). It can probably kill me but if I say so, people laugh. "Oh you who look so healthy!" Treatment is worse than the illness. When I'm in pain it doesn't show. When I feel like I'm going to pass out I look normal. If I ask to sit down people look at me like if I'm dumb. If I can't keep up with someone, I should "exercise more and stop being lazy".

Believe me. You don't want this.

I know exactly how you think though. I also wish people had more knowledge and understanding and compassion about mental illness instead of being judging, callous jerks. But maybe... it's just how THEY are, no matter what is wrong with us. It's something wrong with THEM.

[KristyGirl7]

Originally Posted by PrisonBound

Sometimes I wish I had a physical problem and not a mental one.

I know...crazy, right?

The thing is, my health is good. I'm in good shape. I run. A lot. It helps with my depression and my OCD is playing a part in how much I run (I'm discussing in therapy)

At least w a physical illness, people SEE it usually, or at least understand it better. IDK, just venting I guess. I try to be positive. I of course don't want anything physically wrong w me, but some days, this mental thing I struggle with feels like the worst thing on the planet. We all have our crosses to bear, I suppose

I think it's normal for people to wish something opposite of what they are going through.

So some people with physical problems are probably thinking: I would trade it for mental ones...

[reesecups]

Right now, I'm dealing with physical as well as emotional challenges. My physical problems aren't nearly as bad as a lot of people. But at the moment, with being unsure of my physical health, it is making my mental health issues kind of take a backseat. I've got to just focus on getting through one day at a time and not focus on the future until I know more. Sort of like you have to do when you are very depressed and suicidal. I think one is as bad as the other.

[steelfang]

I have learned to embrace my bipolar. I firmly believe it has only deepened my love for life and connection to the universe. It gives me a unique perspective and makes me more creative. Mental illnesses themselves are rarely fatal.

[-jimi-]

I might be a better or worse person for what I've gone through. Better to other sufferers but I tend to upset "normal" people and them being in majority, maybe the world would be better if I was more like them?...

I do like traits of "disorders" I have but I really have a hard time understanding how crippling anxiety have ever done me any good...

[Webgoji]

Originally Posted by PrisonBound

Sometimes I wish I had a physical problem and not a mental one.

I know...crazy, right?

The thing is, my health is good. I'm in good shape. I run. A lot. It helps with my depression and my OCD is playing a part in how much I run (I'm discussing in therapy)

At least w a physical illness, people SEE it usually, or at least understand it better. IDK, just venting I guess. I try to be positive. I of course don't want anything physically wrong w me, but some days, this mental thing I struggle with feels like the worst thing on the planet. We all have our crosses to bear, I suppose

I have to agree, but I can also see how other people would disagree. Personally I can handle physical pain; bone spurs, heart problems, esophageal corrosion, migraines ... I function through stuff that seems to put most people down for the count. I'm not scared of "the big day" either; I've got my stuff packed. I'm not really ready, but I won't be in this lifetime. It will be a nice trip though when it comes.

So I would rather fight all that than the mental side for two simple reasons.
1. External fights are easy, the opponent isn't myself.
2. I'll have help with the external fights instead of not getting support with the inner fight.

[FrayedEnd]

Totally understandable. mental illness is more stigmatized than physical. So many just chalk it up to some personal failure and don't realize that very often people are in no way responsible for the chemical imbalance causing mental illness.