Why I Talk Openly About My Mental Health Struggles
This article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a mental health condition. If you think you or someone you know might be suffering from any mental health conditions, please seek help from a licensed clinical psychologist or psychiatrist.
When I was growing up in Singapore in the 1980s and ‘90s, there was a social stigma attached to mental illness. While people’s attitudes now have certainly improved, in certain Asian cultures, particularly among the older generation, mental health can still be a topic that’s taboo.
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In my late teens, I was diagnosed with clinical depression, Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and manic-depression. I twice received in-patient treatment at psychiatric wards and had eight treatments of Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT). I was put on a course of psychiatric medication for nine years from the ages of 18 to 27 and had talk therapy sessions with at least half a dozen different mental health professionals.
At 24, I left Singapore to study journalism in London. That year, I joined a therapy group where I was given the opportunity to talk openly about my mental health issues with a community of people who identified with and understood some of the difficulties I experienced.
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The following year, through my blog, I was contacted by Jason Pegler, the founder of London mental health publisher Chipmunkapublishing.
Pegler gave me the chance to share my story by encouraging me to write about my mental health journey. He then published my stories in a book titled “Rotten Jellybeans: Tales of Girlhood Misadventure”.
Talking openly about my mental health struggles was my first step towards achieving mental wellness. Sharing my mental health challenges both with trustworthy people and through journaling and blogging helped me move towards sanity.
Today, I am happy to report that I no longer take psychiatric medications, and most of the time, I lead a healthy, productive, full and peaceful life.
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Being open and honest about my mental illnesses has helped me to get rid of the guilt and shame I had felt about my destructive and off-balanced thoughts, attitudes and actions.
Guilt — a common feeling of emotional distress that signals us when our actions or inactions have caused or might cause harm to another person -physical, emotional, or otherwise — and shame — a painful emotion that responds to a sense of failure to attain some ideal state — are two very debilitating psychological states that can isolate the mentally ill and impede their ability to seek and/or receive the help they need.
By talking openly about my mental health problems I could see that my illness was separate from who I was as a person. I came to understand that while I have an illness, I am not the illness.
By being honest about my mental health difficulties I gave myself permission to be human and to accept my limitations.
I stopped hiding and presenting a false self to the world but could begin trying to achieve authenticity – a state of being where one’s actions match one’s true values and beliefs.
Research has shown that authenticity – which can be achieved through honest self-examination and disclosure – acts as a buffer to loneliness and improves mental health.
According to psychologist Stephen Joseph PhD, authenticity “is likely to foster the essential psychological resources that give people perspective on any difficulties they do experience, and help them manage emotional and environmental challenges.”
Besides providing freedom from guilt and shame and enabling authenticity, talking openly about my mental health problems has also given me the chance to help others like me.
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When I share about my mental health journey, other people who are suffering from mental illness feel less anxious about negative judgement and are less embarrassed to talk about their own difficulties too. When I talk to other mentally ill people, I also get suggestions on how to better manage some of the problems that come up in my day-to-day life.
While there are many benefits to talking openly about your mental health problems, you should be careful about whom you choose to share such information with, and when and where to share.
Not everyone is accepting and tolerant of mental illness, so be discerning about who you open up to.
Photo by Roberto Nickson on Unsplash
There are certain places and occasions – for example at the office, a job interview, during a formal event, with a stranger on the airplane, at a funeral, or at a gathering with people you are meeting for the first time – where it is best to avoid discussing your mental health as it could result in prejudiced reactions or misunderstandings.
Share only in safe spaces such as group therapy sessions or with close family members and friends who are understanding, and who you know love and accept you as you are.
If you think you or someone you know might be suffering from depression, bipolar disorder, ADHD or any mental health problems, please seek help from a licensed, qualified clinical psychologist or psychiatrist.
Common Care provides a full-service online therapy platform with the largest selection of qualified online therapists. After completing an initial intake assessment, we recommend suitable therapists based on your needs, preferences and goals in therapy. Begin therapy anytime, anywhere at affordable prices.
This article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a mental health condition.
Editor’s note:
It’s incredibly difficult to talk about our mental health. Struggling with mental health is a struggle with an invisible illness that oftentimes, feels almost impossible to put into words and make sense of, much less share it with someone and risk the chance of rejection, dismissal of our pain, or apathy. We thank our brave contributors that find the courage to share their stories with the community at Common Care.
Our mission is to destigmatize mental health and increase access to mental healthcare. We are looking to build a truly safe, non-judgmental and supportive space for our community to support one another and learn from one another.
On behalf of our contributor, thank you for taking the time to read and hope you feel less alone on your mental health journey.
If you are interested to share your mental health story with others, please contact us at community@commoncarecentral.com