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I was happy to hear from a long term client yesterday, who I had been seeing for about 29 sessions so far, that she had written a blog post for Bell Let's Talk Day. The topic of the post was things she has learned from our time together. I thought it was very thoughtful and well-written, and full of insights that make a huge difference in the way one would approach life.
It's important to remember that sharing our struggles and authentic self with someone takes a lot of inner strength and courage, and is something that should be commended rather than thought of as a weakness. Mental health issues can not be seen, and consequently are given much less tolerance, acceptance and empathy when compared to physical health issues. We wouldn't expect someone in a wheelchair to walk but we may get angry or resentful when someone suffering from depression has to take an extended leave of absence. People who suffer from depression, anxiety, trauma, PTSD, bipolar disorder and several other mental health conditions usually don't look or act differently than anyone else. It's time to change the way we view mental illness as secondary in importance to physical illness. OHIP will allow you to see a medical doctor when you are feeling physically ill, but not a psychotherapist when you are suffering mentally. Not all private insurance companies cover psychotherapists, even though almost all of them cover professionals who work on the body. We become what we think about all day long. Our thoughts shape our destiny, if the mind is not healthy, you will not be healthy. The more we advocate for mental health, the more likely that those who genuinely need help will get help at critical points in their lives.
8 Comments
Benjamin
2/5/2021 09:43:18 am
It's much easier to see how the physical body is deteriorating as compared to the mind, which can be more subtle and take place more gradually. That's why people think that with mental or emotional stress, that they can get over it themselves but if it's physical, they need outside help to heal. I'm a family doctor and I refer people for therapy because sometimes they can't see just how much they are affected as a result of the past and present stress in their lives.
Samantha Samuels
2/18/2021 10:02:53 am
The effects of trauma, depression and anxiety build upon themselves over the years as people don't correct their erroneous thoughts and tend to repress negative emotions. Consequently as time goes by, the threshold for developing more serious mental illness lowers.
Laura
2/5/2021 02:14:56 pm
From my own experience, I believe I appeared 'successful' to the outside world for a long time even with considerable depression and anxiety and I don't think anyone knew or cared enough to know. I held a high profile job making lots of money and got to travel to many beautiful places as part of my career. But the stress and loneliness got to me and it led to a breakdown. I feel like on a daily basis the burden of thoughts and feelings weigh you down and drive you to a dark place. It didn't seem anyone wanted to hear my real feelings, even if I tried to talk about them. I was fortunate to have a caring therapist to help me through. I still see her every couple of months just to help keep me on the right path so I don't go back to that place again.
Samantha Samuels
2/18/2021 10:06:06 am
I know many people who feel exactly as you do Laura, and there is no one there to listen. Thank you for sharing your experience. Luckily, you received treatment at the right time and are continuing to benefit from therapy.
JR
2/6/2021 06:06:58 pm
I saw a therapist a few years ago who was able to help me when nothing I tried was working and no one understood what I was going through. It can really make a difference.
Samantha Samuels
2/18/2021 10:09:12 am
The right psychotherapist can offer a more objective insight into your current issues which can lead to a more empowering perspective of your current situation and future potential. It is fortunate you found a therapist who was a good fit for you.
Nadia Malik
2/8/2021 10:12:11 pm
I wish workplaces had a greater legal obligation towards employees with regards to depression as a disability, because it's not given the same weight as physical illnesses. I feel bad as someone in HR who has been instructed from senior management to 'find reasons' to fire some employees who disclosed a mental health condition and were on leave of absence because they didn't want to deal with them. I know I'll be fired if I don't comply. It's awful that they feel sorry for someone with cancer but they don't see how depression can literally suck the life out of you.
Samantha Samuels
2/18/2021 10:31:11 am
I believe it works this way because HR is paid by the company and the company only has their best interests in mind, not the best interests of the employee. At some workplaces I have observed that as an employee, it can work against you if you complain about a supervisor. The duty to accommodate is interpreted by some employers to be too burdensome even though in practice there are simple steps to take for assisting someone with depression or anxiety. However, productivity may be affected which concerns some employers. Leave a Reply. |
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