Support is everything (except when you're balancing multiple mental illnesses) #MentalHealth
They always say that it's important to have a support system. That it's vital to healing and mental well-being. Therapist and doctors say this a lot. And while I agree with this life can get pretty hard when you're balancing multiple mental illnesses. I try to do everything in my power to manage them through therapy, self-care and medications. I am beyond grateful for my support system. I have so much love for them. They have been so instrumental in my healing process that sometimes I don't stop and think about how wonderful they are. We often take for granted how much beauty we have in our lives. Yet life can get hard when I have to balance three challenging mental illnesses. I never knew that #BipolarDisorder could be so exhausting. It seems like I am on an emotional roller coaster at times. When I'm happy, I'm manic. When I'm sad, I'm depressed.
But Bipolar was not my first diagnosis. After my stay in the hospital after my self harm and suicide attempt, I was diagnosed with #PTSD . I was incorrectly diagnosed with #Depression at first because I wasn't showing any signs of mania. Receiving that PTSD diagnosis changed things for me. Now I can understand why I act the way I do and why I have nightmares sometimes. Why emotions are so intense when I get triggered. While it changed things for me, it only added to the complexity. Then I was later diagnosed with #BorderlinePersonalityDisorder I suppose due to the emotional dysfunction that I exhibit. In either case, while I now had labels for my problems they create more problems than solutions. Especially when trying to get my emotions under control. Sometimes I bristle at the help given because I am either in a Bipolar mood episode, I feel overwhelmed or I don't know how to express myself. While I am surrounded by people that love and want to support me, I am still navigating my way around all three of my illnesses.
However never underestimate the power and necessity of a support system. I am forever grateful and I know that with their help I can work on my struggles. My illnesses don't define me. They are just a part of my story just like my history of trauma. It's just there, while it does impact me I don't have to navigate its effects alone anymore. For so long I was alone and that only made things worse. Now I am not alone. So I encourage all of you to gather support. People who love and understand. People that are patient and compassionate. This is vital to thriving and healing. While I may never understand why I was abused or why I have the illnesses that I do, I know that I am loved, supported and believed. This has been crucial for my healing. I pray that all of you find this too. So stay safe and strong my friends. As always, thanks for reading and reach out for help if you need to. We are here for each other. I enjoy reading your comments. I'm glad I can help.
Blessings,
-Anastasia