Mental disorder

A very dear friend wrote this.... Please take the time to read and pray for understanding.

A couple of months ago, someone relatively close to me made a comment that disgusted me. This person said that they were "too strong-willed and strong-minded" to be affected by a mental disorder. I was hurt by this, but I didn't let it show. The conversation was about another person.

Suffering from mental disorders is not a sign of weakness. It is a sign of strength being applied to the wrong area. It takes an insane amount of strength and effort to fight against oneself every day when all one wants to do is lay down in bed and cry. It is hard to even want to get up some days or take a shower or go to school/work. It's hard to take care of one's family and spend time with friends. It's hard to care enough about life to even continue living it, and sometimes, these people make the strongest decision of all by taking their own life. It takes unimaginable strength to go through that.

Imagine waking up every day with no hope, love, and faith. Imagine struggling through the day, forcing yourself to get up and take care of your responsibilities. Imagine dealing with the stress of wanting to change for the better but being unable to do so. Imagine all of that fighting against your very being as you barely survive. You MUST be strong to deal with it!

People suffering from mental disorders don't need someone to tell them they're doing things wrong or that it is simple to get past what they are dealing with. They just need a friend to lean on. They need someone to show them compassion and to not be too intrusive. They need hope.

If you have a friend who is suffering from a mental disorder, comfort them. Tell them it's going to be alright. Tell them you are there for them and that you love them and that they will be alright one day, and leave it at that. If they want to talk to you, fine. Listen... and listen well. Don't talk, just listen. Give them a place to vent. Be the catalyst that allows them to see that maybe there's a way out... but don't ever force yourself on them and don't ever call them weak. Don't ever try to tell them to snap out of it. Don't ever tell them they have to be strong.

They are stronger than you will ever be.

There's an old joke I like about Psychology. It really applies to this.

Q: How many Psychologists does it take to change a light bulb?
A: Just one, but the light bulb has to really want to change first.