Even with people I've known for years, I've never been adept at discussing my mental health. In the past, I lacked the self-awareness necessary to discuss it with others in an effective manner. Even though it has been a long time since then, I am still hesitant to discuss it with anyone save my personal family. The remainder of this essay will be used to attempt and determine why I find it challenging to discuss my mental health with people.
Why It's Difficult to Talk About Mental Health
For me, there is no stigma associated with talking about my mental health, at least not that I can see. I've been fortunate to have a wonderful group of friends, many of whom have been honest about their own battles with mental health, so I know without a doubt that they wouldn't turn me away because of my own problems.
Even though it sounds foolish, I really don't want to bring up any of my mental health issues when I'm with my pals. It can be exhausting for me to spend so much time alone in my brain. Beyond any social obligations, going to see my pals is a vacation from a lot of the issues that trouble me every day.
I realize that some people won't get this. After all, if you're friends, you ought to feel free to tell the other person everything. Yeah, I get that. But I've never viewed things that way. I want to have fun when I'm with my friends, but it's challenging to make any conversation on mental health enjoyable.
How to Make Talking About Mental Health Easier
Even if all of that is true, I still don't want to completely cut them off from my inner life. I want to treat them with the same respect as I know they would entrust me with their troubles.
But as I've already stated, I'm not entirely sure how to achieve this at the moment. Maybe it's not the best idea for me right now to do any kind of mental health presentation when I know a large gathering will be present. Perhaps I might start by talking to one or two individuals one on one and see how that goes. That might be all I require. Or perhaps I'll want to continue after that.
I also struggle with depression in addition to anxiety. I was at my lowest point in 2023, and I wrote about it here. My suicidal thoughts originated from a state of profound, complete despair where there were hardly any thoughts at all. There was nothing except emptiness and numbness. The only idea I had at the time was a strong wish to put an end to the sadness.
More antipsychotics, anticonvulsants, tricyclic and MAOI antidepressants, as well as spravato treatment for depression, may be suggested by your doctor.
Until very recently, when I went through several months of panic and heightened anxiety, I never truly grasped the distinction between worry and intrusive thoughts.
It took place at night. I was fully sleeping when I awoke in a panicked state. I was aware, and when I made an effort to settle myself, the following thoughts were taunted.
I don't want you to believe that I was hearing voices, though. These were my original ideas. I was persistent in asking myself to put an end to my agony and offering myself solutions. It was both strange and frightening. Fortunately, and by whatever greater power you believe in such things is at work, I had the foresight to realize that these thoughts were a part of my condition. I realized that my anxiety was speaking to me internally through these thoughts.
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