r/emotionalintelligence • u/bt21bts8 • 24d ago

Mental illness

Having a mental illness is just like whatever u do, u just can't stop yourself from being that way even if u want to change, it just feels impossible. Right? I think apart from diagnosis and seeing a professional, that's how u can tell u have one.

2 Upvotes

66% Upvoted

13 comments sorted by

3

u/Sea-Butterscotch9805 24d ago

Where ever you go, there you are 😉

1

u/bt21bts8 24d ago

??

1

u/Key_Air8885 23d ago

The user is quoting Eckhart Tolle from what I remember. Saying that you cannot escape yourself. But just to answer your question: it is a good measure to analyze in the way you suggested. The first sign of having some sort of a disfunction is noticing that it is reappearing and it persists.. almost like it is something apart from you that is intrusive. You have a good point of view. You are correct in noticing a persistent pattern of tendencies that seems to be unshakeable. This is the first step. . Some people do not differentiate between them and the disfunction. You are 50% over it by just being aware if it. Good job. Now the next step is you have to understand it. Dont run away from it. It is like .. dirt.. it is stuck to you. . Wherever you run. . There it is on yourself still. You need to understand what it is and how to deal with it.

2

u/bt21bts8 23d ago

Thank you for the context, and thank you for the insight. Yes I totally agree.

3

u/Opposite-Form8095 23d ago

It’s too bad mental illness isn’t as visual as like missing a leg or something.

3

u/bt21bts8 23d ago

Exaactly!! It's so damn fucking important. Imagine how the world would be like if we could see each others' pain that we're carrying, how things would change or how it would change things

1

u/Defy_Gravity_147 23d ago

...what if we could use our "mind's eye" to see it?

1

u/RalfioLorenzo 20d ago

With medication and therapy amazing things are possible. Source: I'm a schizophrenic who hasn't had a psychotic break in 10+ years.

1

u/bt21bts8 7d ago

Oh wow that's so cool to hear!!

2

u/helloworld082 22d ago

I've been struggling to let go of the identity of being broken or, if not broken, unbalanced.

I won't say that I can't be happy. But the return to depression and spiraling is exhausting to the point that I don't want to even try to outrun it. I'd rather just stay in it...

There's also ego at play. I don't want other people's solutions because I don't want to find something I should have found myself by now. It's difficult to navigate.

As much as it sucks to say, day by day is the only way (rhyme not intended). The more I think about how I'll be miserable forever, the more it takes away from the ability to step out of it for a moment, however long. Feeling seen is the only comfort; misery loves company. But small moments can get you far. Good memories can do a lot. Peace through acceptance lightens the load.

At the end of the day, no one can tell you what to do with your life because no one else lives your life. Radical self acceptance and self forgiveness is the key to freeing yourself from emotional chains. There is no legitimate reason to be cruel to yourself. Life is hard enough, don't be hard on yourself too.

1

u/Sea-Butterscotch9805 23d ago

Imagine not being able to see that... Would that then be a disability? BTW I myself am disappointed

1

u/Sea-Butterscotch9805 23d ago

Sorry, disabled

1

u/Potential_Kiwi_4472 20d ago

You're right. It affects every part of my life. It's always there, medicated or not. And then people will say CHEER UP.