Today I wanted to write about a subject that is a little closer to me and a bit misunderstood by most people. There is a lot of talk about different types of Mental Illness and I feel as if there is a stigma- in fact i know there is a stigma about it. I just wanted to take the time to clear up any confusion people may have about me and Mental Illness and share my thoughts on the matter.
We see a lot of things in the news quite often actually- about people who are crazy, psychotic, depressed, anxious, drug dependent, emotionally unstable, bipolar, etc. The list goes on and on. I feel like the world has really portrayed disorders as being something that can "Go away." Or something that makes them "Crazy." I just want to make it clear that both those statements are false.
I have heard a lot of people talk about what they think Mental Illness is. And what they Think about people who have them. I want to state that it is hurtful and disrespectful to the people who DO have a type of mental disorder.
For myself, many people in the past and even now maybe, have looked and gone- Oh Alyssa is paranoid, Alyssa is Psychotic, Alyssa is X,Y and Z. Well I want to make it clear that i am not. What i have is Called Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. And i want to share quite quickly just a bit of information on it that i feel people are misunderstanding.
OCD is NOT a joke. Let me explain that again- It is NOT funny, It is NOT okay to say you are a little OCD, or a little X,Y and Z. You can't be a little OCD. You either are. Or you are Not. OCD is Exceptionally Painful. And many people I have seen in life, make a joke about it. People think you can just STOP it. Let me tell you, OCD is not just STOPPED.
It's really not. OCD takes a lot of energy and a lot of medication combinations, Exposure Response Therapy, and Different types of Therapy to Manage. And it is super not okay to say to someone with OCD- I know you can't stop, but stop! Or you are paranoid! Or Seriously? You don't have that, you aren't X,Y and Z, so stop worrying about it. Even on occasion- "Do you Pray? Are you going to church?"- Uhm, God didn't tell us, that if we did those things we would be completely fixed. Mortality isn't like that- And To be honest, if it was that freaking easy, Everyone would just stop.
I have seen and talked with people with OCD. And I have seen how debilitating it is. For myself, it is extremelly painful and extremelly frustrating. I don't get to do the things i want too half the time or see my loved ones because of my worries.
Along with OCD I Have Anxiety and have battled depression. Both of which are things that I am constantly Fighting. Don't get me wrong, Some people really do understand. From a religious side- Our Savior Jesus Christ, Understands perfectly. There are people in my life, who may not fully but they certainly try. Many people struggle with Mental Illness'. I just want people to try to understand- that it's not easy- and all you can hope and pray for is strength and the ability to get better.
In fact, many people would rather deal with any other form of Disease or Defect rather than a Psychological One.
I appreciate everyone who has supported me and to those of you who live with someone or know someone who struggles and you are trying to help them- Kudos to you. There are struggles on both sides of the spectrum.
I just think, we need to try to be a little more compassionate towards those around us.
Thanks
Alyssa
