Breaking the Stigma: Talking about Mental Health
As a therapist, I’m surrounded with conversations about mental health- with clients, colleagues, on social media and in my social circles. And a lot has changed about these conversations over the past 15 years that I’ve been working in the field. I’m heartened to see more and more people talking openly about struggling with depression or anxiety, thinking differently about what it means to have a mental illness, and being more open to treatment. These are big steps forward, but we’re not at the top of the hill yet!
Even today I still see people brush off evidence-based and scientifically studied interventions (like deep breathing or visualizations) as “woo woo”. I still hear people talk about how therapy is “just talking”. People feel judged or judge others for taking psychiatric medications. I’ve had coworkers (yes, you read that right) within the past 5 years complain openly about people seeking out emergency treatment for suicidal ideations because they were “attention seeking.” Like I said, we’ve come a long way but not long enough.
That’s why I feel it’s so important for me as a therapist to also share that I have experienced both mental illness and the recovery process. My past diagnoses include ADHD, Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder. I take meds. I’ve been to therapy multiple times over the course of my life. I’ve been suicidal, I’ve been numb, I’ve made really poor decisions for myself (that also hurt others), I’ve stayed too long in unhealthy relationships. I also intentionally work every day to support my mental health so that I can remain confident that I will never get back to those dark places.
I talk about this not to make it “about me” but more to make it about US. The experiences I’ve had with my mental health are experiences that a lot of people have had. We are all human. And if I can’t talk about my own stuff without shame or self-judgement, how should I ever expect my clients to be able to?
Who do you talk to about your mental health? Are you checking in regularly with your partners, friends, or kids about their feelings and how they feel they are doing in their lives? Remember- you don’t have to do anything or have an answer for anything. Sometimes the most powerful things we can do are to just speak our own truths and to listen to others’.
Let’s break the stigma and start talking!
