How do you Deal with Life Challenges When also Dealing with MH Issues??

"How do you Deal with Life Challenges When also Dealing with MH Issues??"

I consider that a "$64,000,000" question! (it used to be $64K, but y'know, rising cost of living...)

I think that's a challenge for anyone. I have heard "when you get depressed you fall behind, when you fall behind you get depressed" for example. All I have been able to do is juggle dealing with longer term issues while also dealing with short term objective challenges as best I know how: try to live a healthy lifestyle; don't isolate too much; have balance in things (such as a regular schedule with some down time); ask for help when needed (a hard step for me, always!); stand up for yourself as best you can; strive to remain optimistic; be aware of your limitations, triggers, etc. Double down on all the psychological and physical maintenance "stuff".

One of the biggest things imo is not letting judgmental people get to you. I have seen so many people's best efforts be dismissed as laziness, self-pity, etc. etc. by others who don't really understand the situation or who are just plain empathy challenged. It is useful to take people's feedback with a grain of salt.

I think many people are also afraid of being judged when the going gets tough, even if others turn out to be more understanding than we expect. It helps to remember that almost everyone goes through that.

Great comments!

To reiterate a few...

I take it that financial stress is one of the burdens in your life. This no doubt contributes to your anxiety and depression. I say try to address this as best you can immediately. Disability has been mentioned. In my own case, I was on a provincial government disability income assistance for five years. It wasn't a lot but I managed to eke out a living. I knew my rent and bills were paid and I had enough for food. This took off a great deal of my anxiety.

It has been mentioned that you take this one step at a time and I agree. Set out for yourself a plan of action with attainable goals to get things in order. These must be realistic - and measurable too. Your mental healthcare provider(s) can help you with these. Your local mental health association may be able to help you too. My own has a 12 week program designed (mostly mood disorders) to get on track, make a plan, rehabilitate, and take control of participants' lives. A support group may be helpful in staying on track with your plan also.

Thank you. It is financial stress and career-related (right now). I do have a therapist who helps me with these things. She's very good at problem solving. But then of course it's in between sessions when I have the most trouble. I haven't seen her in a week. I don't have time for anything else. I'm looking for work and moving. It's overwhelming. Ugh.

I'm agoraphobic, but one country I like the look of is New Zealand. What makes me angry though is that this country wasn't occupied by humans until a certain point in time. They killed off a lot of bird species native to New Zealand, and one called the Kakapo is on its way out, but I think humans are awful because many don't see the error of their ways, but with that said, it looks like a nice country with lots of lovely parks and mountains.

I have this need to prove myself- to myself. No one but myself. And that means that- even though I really do have fairly severe depressive episodes (to the point of some of them causing pretty intense suicidal ideation and self injury)... I have this need to NOT have them... limit me in any way.

I think back to myslef as a young child- and think... would that little kid... want to know that Im doing well, keeping up with things the best I can... or would that little girl be sad to see what I have become.

This is not to shame you. Mental health concerns are no joke. And sometimes I cant get out of bed. Sometimes the best I can do is to keep myself from injuring myself. Get through the day to the point where I can sleep again.

But I do want to say- never give up. Do what you can... and then try to do a little more. Push yourself. Not over the edge, but away from the point where you are depressed with where you are and what you are missing out on.

Good luck. Its really hard to funcion with mental health issues. It has taken me a while to get to where I am. And it wasnt easy. I know though, if I can do it, you can too

Every day is a challenge. Every day is like climbing a mountain. Been in treatment for 35 years and over 40 medications and made little progress.

That's my own survivor mentality! You just put into words how I am myself. I also have a need to prove myself to myself. I push myself to recover and to thrive. Typically I won't let life beat me down, but sometimes it's hard and I get SI.

Thank you.

This is a really cool thread.

Being sensitive in our world is very painful. We have been handed a really unique deck of cards, now we just have to learn to play it effectively. We may have added obstacles and handicaps but everyone has something.

I have been struggling with this a lot too. I have been debilitated with PTSD for the last three years from unethical therapists / healthcare professionals. I have been repeatedly traumatized in the past three years wherever I go for help. It was one thing after the other and I had enough a long time ago! I don't know what keeps me going but I do know that life isn't all bad. A few moments each day where I can feel the sun on my face or wrap up under a blankie with my teddy bears makes life worth living. It is vitally important that we look after ourselves.

One thing is for certain: we humans are incredibly resilient when faced with life's challenges. I don't believe we give ourselves enough credit. I know I don't. I am surprised I ever survived the last three years but the cool thing is - there is always something good that can come from our negative experiences. Sometimes we just need time to process things in order to become something better and stronger. A phoenix rising from the ashes. We sufferers are SO strong. A constant reminder of this and taking a few moments each day to really appreciate the small things we have; like the sink we can wash dishes in, or the toilet in our bathroom. The water at our disposal at any given moment. The fact we are not at war in our country.

Not minimizing our experiences or invalidating our suffering (our emotions are normal reactions to abnormal circumstances).

Thanks,
HD7970ghz

TY for post and your comments.

You have reminded me of how resilient I myself am and can be. I am very sorry for the traumas you have faced with healthcare professionals. But you're right, we are stronger than we may realize or give ourselves credit for. Clearly you have survived the obstacles and hardships you've faced and you're still standing and fighting. Kudos to you!!

When I created this thread, I was at my wits end with life challenges. I had just been laid off from one of my jobs -- second layoff I have faced, on top of one challenge after another for years.

Right now, I am in a position of hope. My living situation got settled, I am moving into a beautiful new apartment, and so that part of my life has been worked out nicely. Somehow, things do fall into place, even when I think they won't and even when I worry about and think the worst.

To add to your post:

Our minds are very powerful things. I wonder about the power of positive thinking when life is most challenging. Positive thoughts keep our emotional life more positive. They help to keep us afloat when all seems lost and hopeless. Positivity helps us to keep fighting, trying and coming up with creative solutions to problems. Something inside me keeps fighting, even when I feel I cannot any longer. It's exhausting, but positive thoughts really DO help.

It also helps to have the right kind of support in place, especially when negativity takes over. I find myself thinking the worst whenever I face a major challenge. So I need help switching my thoughts to the positive and back to a position of hope. This forum and my closest friends/confidantes have helped to give me the strength I need when I have lost all strength.
Thanks again.

I cope with being MI with depression and anxiety by making certain I get enough sleep