Anxiety and depression are fairly common, and yet for those who are unfamiliar, the symptoms of mental illness can be difficult to understand. A recent article in the Huffington Post hopes to help, listing “10 Things I Wish My Family And Friends Understood About My Anxiety And Depression,” and we wanted to share it with you. For anyone experiencing symptoms of anxiety and/or depression, we encourage you to seek professional help. And if you’re in the Westside Cleveland area, you can schedule an appointment with us at the Center for Effective Living.
“As someone who has suffered from mental illness for a long time, I understand people feeling weary about sharing their feelings with friends and family. Sometimes it seems like there is no way they could ever understand what you’re going through. In my personal experience I have found they did try their best to understand and support me; however, there are some things that may be difficult for them to fully understand.
1. Sometimes I cannot find an explanation for why I feel the way I do.
There are times when my anxiety and depression act up and I don’t know why. I understand there is usually a trigger, but sometimes even I don’t know what it is. Unfortunately, my mental illness doesn’t come with an informational pamphlet about what triggers it.
2. Being constantly asked if I am OK can lead to me feeling even worse.
Sometimes when you ask me if I am OK, there is honestly nothing wrong — the constant questioning can make me panic about whether I am unintentionally acting like something wrong. In this panic I manage to convince myself you think I am upset too often or that I am making up my illness. I know it’s irrational, but I can’t help it.
3. Whenever I seem to want the most space is usually when I need the most support.
When I start to go into a depressive episode or my anxiety is particularly high, I try to isolate myself. I hide in my room or spend an immense amount of time outside of the house to try to stay away from people. When I’ve locked myself in my room it means more to me than you could ever know when you just come lay next to me with no need for explanation or words of any kind.
4. Some days it really is impossible for me to get out of bed.
This one is particularly difficult for some people to understand. Whenever I lay is my bed “avoiding my responsibilities,” I really do want to be productive. I want to right that essay and take that online test; I just can’t bring myself to do it. I feel like I am paralyzed. And not being able to fulfill my responsibilities tends to make my anxiety even worse. I am not just being lazy or procrastinating; I simply cannot do it at the time.
5. I don’t mean to avoid people.
Don’t take it personally if I give a “no” to your invitation to go out or don’t respond to your text. It’s not that I don’t want to see or talk to you, sometimes I just don’t feel like talking to anyone. I just need some time to sort out what’s going on inside of my head, and going to a movie or texting you about the newest episode of “The Walking Dead” makes me feel like I am never going to be able figure out my own brain.”
To continue reading this article on the Huffington Post, click here.