Neglect

Introduction:

Hi, I am part of the MBBS undergraduate journey. I faced many hardships and challenges during this journey, and I would like to share one of my personal secrets and former insecurities. I never used to talk about it with anyone. I worried about what others would think and feared they would judge me or leave me behind, making me feel alone. This is about my "anxiety issues." Not just simple anxiety, but a specific subtype.It was in 2022 when I first felt the symptoms. At that time, AI was on the rise, so I entered my symptoms into an AI bot, which suggested that I had anxiety and needed medical care. I sought medical help, and slowly, over time, my anxiety started improving. Many people with anxiety suffer in silence, not reaching out for help, or those who receive proper treatment do not talk about it much. In this modern time, no one talks about our mental problems. So, I feel compelled to share my experience in hopes that someone else might find help.

My Experience:It was my decision to seek medical help. At first, I had many questions swirling in my head: Why me? Why am I the only one affected? Will the medical help work for me? Will the treatment decrease my mental stability or my mind's retention? Will I need electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)?But hold on, after the first day, all my doubts disappeared, and I felt much better after the first counseling session. My doctors advised some investigations before starting medications. After the investigations, I attended my second counseling session. My doctor clearly explained that the medication was to be taken on an emergency basis and would not affect my mind or mental stability.After the first or second counseling session, I felt significantly better as my anxieties began to disappear, allowing me to enjoy life more easily. Sometimes, I feel lucky that I self-diagnosed the problem and sought medical help before the condition worsened.

Support System:My support system included my psychiatric doctor and their strategies. My doctor gave me ample time during counseling sessions to speak about everything that bothered me, whether it was related to my friends, class performance, or other issues. My doctor used therapy sessions to address my anxieties.Additionally, my support system included my soul sister. She had no idea what anxiety was or how I felt, but she listened to everything I said and comforted me, assuring me that everything would be fine. My family also provided support by offering comfort and understanding.

Coping Strategies:My doctor recommended a novel to help me overcome my anxieties. She even bought the novel for me. Reading it thoroughly gave me insights into various coping strategies. The strategies that worked for me included:

- Affirmations

- Diverting my mind from constantly worrying about others' opinions

- Avoiding perfectionism

- Shame attack exercises

Most importantly, accepting that I had a problem and believing that I could overcome it

Message of Hope:I always thought that overcoming anxiety was a huge task, but accepting the problem and believing in my ability to overcome it made the process easier, though not easy. Great things take time. There were times when I felt extremely anxious and hopeless, but I would recall my support systems and reach out to my sister, who would help me get through those moments. Remember, mental problems are internal and invisible to others. It's essential to gather strength within yourself and stay happy.Awareness:I once read that people often care about what is visible, focusing on physical health while mental issues go unnoticed. When untreated, they can progress to something more severe than expected. So, if you feel something is wrong, seek medical help as I did, without delay.

Conclusion:In conclusion, people may not understand what is happening in your mind, so it's our duty to seek medical help if we are not feeling well. Don't feel sad; you are not alone in this journey. Many people neglect their mental health or avoid talking about it. Focus on what you want and remember to stand up for your mental health. If I can help, feel free to reach out to me.#overcominganxiety #anxietyawareness #overcominganxiety #mentalhealthmatters #Anxiety #togetherwecan #breakthestigma

Living with ADHD is like driving a Formula 1 car with BMX bike brakes. The speed, the insights, the brilliance—it's all there, but controlling it, harnessing it, and making it work within the constraints of everyday life is a constant challenge. Here's a glimpse into my world, shaped by the exhilarating highs and frustrating lows of ADHD.

One of the most striking aspects of my experience is the contrast between my intellectual capabilities and my practical execution. I am often brighter than almost everyone around me, learning new things incredibly fast when I am engaged. I can see deeply into problems, developing an abstract understanding of a new area much faster than others. I'm very good at anticipating problems and making a plan, yet I struggle terribly with executing those plans.

Distraction is a constant companion, leading me to start and abandon projects frequently. I am an information junkie, loving to learn new things, yet this enthusiasm often leads me astray. I can be incredibly verbal and charming, witty and funny, but also viciously self-critical and sometimes critical of others. I hate to wait, procrastinate, and finish people's sentences for them. I only care about getting the information I need; extraneous details frustrate me.

My impatience and irritation over delays are often mistaken for judgment about others' behaviour or output, leading people to think I'm a jerk. In high school, I was a C student and didn’t graduate from college, often spending more time helping others with their homework than doing my own. I detested attending lectures because the information came too slowly, preferring to learn on my own time and in my own way.

My health habits are similarly erratic. For years, I might neglect my health entirely, only to flip-flop to hyper-focused periods where I eat carefully, exercise every day, and lose significant weight, only to fall back into old habits. My self-control around food is all or nothing—I can’t eat just one cookie, so the only way to eat better is to not have cookies around at all.

I can be the smartest and dumbest person in the room, the hardest-working lazy person, the most introverted extrovert, the most distracted person who can tear a concept apart into a million tiny details and reassemble it into total clarity in seconds, all at the same time. What is totally obvious to me can be impenetrable to others, and what is obvious to them is often confusing to me. People often tell me to think outside the box, but I'm so far outside it that I can't even see its boundaries, and I hate being limited to a box anyway.

Interacting with others who don’t have ADHD is one of the hardest parts of my condition. People without ADHD simply cannot relate to our way of seeing the world and often write us off, unable to see the merits of what we find obvious. This disconnect has led to depression, anxiety, and total self-doubt for vast periods of my life. The number of times I’ve opened my mouth only to see others’ eyes roll in dismissal even before I finish speaking is disheartening.

The depression and anxiety form a grey blanket over my thoughts, slowing me down and making me feel like a loser, creating a self-perpetuating cycle of noise in my head. This stress is only compounded by my tendency to vocalize my thought process before it has fully formed, leading others to see me as "half-baked" or off-target. I am often written off as either stupid or irrelevant, regardless of the merit of my ideas.

ADHD also creates bottlenecks in my thought process, making it difficult to follow complex instructions without asking for clarification multiple times, reinforcing the idea that I don’t have a clue. Simple tasks become overwhelming as my mind races through a myriad of considerations, causing hesitation and self-doubt.

Despite these challenges, ADHD can also be a valuable gift. When motivated, I can blow the doors off any project with intense focus and dedication, working faster and more efficiently than anyone else. However, this hyperfocus can only be triggered by stress or a deep interest in the task at hand. Housework, for instance, is the bane of my life, as the more I stress about it, the harder it becomes to start.

This difficulty in self-motivation is tied to reduced dopamine production in the ADHD brain. Dopamine is the chemical reward for mental effort, and my brain has a naturally lower level. When motivated, my dopamine levels increase, but when unmotivated, pushing myself harder only reduces dopamine further, making tasks even more difficult.

Fitting in with non-ADHD people is a constant struggle. I often feel like I don't belong, and I have a strong preference for working independently, like a one-man band. I thrive on stress and urgent tasks, and I can solve problems that baffle others, but I need clear instructions, deadlines, and feedback. Micromanagement and unclear instructions are counterproductive, and I need the freedom to ask questions and clarify tasks in a way that makes sense to me.

As a kid, it took me much longer to learn simple tasks like tying my shoelaces. But now, I speak four languages, have been tested at a genius-level IQ, and have held high-responsibility jobs, all while barely graduating high school and being fired from multiple jobs for not fitting in. The contradictions of ADHD are numerous, but in the end, I see it as a gift. The only problems I face with it are when others see my unusual ways as a problem.

Living with ADHD is a constant balancing act between brilliance and chaos, focus and distraction, and the need to fit in while staying true to my unique perspective. It’s a challenging journey, but one that I continue to navigate with determination and resilience.

Unpredictable and Unstable Environment: Narcissistic mothers often create an unpredictable and emotionally unstable environment for their children. This can be due to their own fluctuating moods, need for excessive admiration, or lack of empathy. This kind of environment can be confusing and stressful for a child, impacting their developing sense of self and emotional regulation.

Emotional Neglect: A narcissistic mother may be more focused on her own needs than her child's emotional well-being. This can lead to emotional neglect, where the child's emotional needs are not met. This lack of emotional validation can contribute to feelings of emptiness and instability, which are common symptoms of BPD.

Invalidation: A narcissistic mother might frequently criticize or invalidate her child's feelings. This can make it difficult for the child to develop a healthy sense of self-worth and identity. Feeling like their thoughts and emotions don't matter can be very damaging.

Fear of Abandonment: The unpredictable nature of a narcissistic mother can lead to a constant fear of abandonment in the child. This fear can manifest in intense and unstable relationships, a core feature of BPD.

Important to Remember:

BPD is a complex disorder with many contributing factors. While a narcissistic parent can increase the risk, it doesn't guarantee a child will develop BPD.

Genetics also play a role in BPD #BorderlinePersonalityDisorder

I feel lost, i am about to lose my marriage of 25 years due to my unmanaged mental healt condition. I have previously been diagnosed with major depresive disorder. My partner was always supportive but frustration and anger has piled up and is not able to take any more. I have been treated for the past 2 years for CPTSD - due to childhood emotional neglect and now the therapist says that BPD is overlapping with CPTSD and recently had a relapsed due to triggers in my extanded family maters … I can’t take the pain and the the thought of our marriage ending

Genetics: Studies on twins and families suggest a genetic predisposition to BPD. If a close relative has BPD, you may be at a higher risk of developing it. However, genes are not destiny, and having a family history doesn't guarantee you'll get BPD.

Brain changes: Research indicates possible structural and functional changes in the brain regions that control emotions and impulses in people with BPD.

Environmental factors: Traumatic life experiences, especially during childhood, are a frequent theme among people with BPD. These can include abuse (emotional, physical, or sexual), neglect, abandonment, or a chaotic family environment.

Here's a more detailed breakdown of these factors:

Genetics: BPD likely isn't caused by a single gene, but rather a combination of genes that increase susceptibility. These genes might influence how you process emotions or react to stress.

Brain changes: Studies using brain imaging techniques have shown potential differences in brain structure and function in people with BPD. These differences might involve the areas involved in regulating emotions, impulses, and relationships. It's important to note that research hasn't definitively established whether these changes cause BPD or are a result of the disorder.

Environmental factors: Many people with BPD report experiencing some form of childhood trauma or a persistently unstable environment. These experiences can affect emotional development and make it harder to manage emotions and build healthy relationships.