The Hidden Struggles of Living with Depression and Anxiety
When we live with mental illness there are a lot of things that happen in our lives that we do not tell others. This can include thoughts and things we do because of the depression and or anxiety we experience. These can be very hard to get through. The effect they have on us can be even more trying when we are unable to talk about them with others. Often, we are left with a negative feeling, which is valid. At the same time, we need to find a way to be proud of ourselves for getting through difficult things that no one else knows about.
The Difficult Battles We Face When Living with Mental Illness
Battling the Inner Critic: Finding Strength Despite Negative Thoughts
When we live with mental illness struggle is a part of our lives. We are enveloped in darkness. It is a darkness that others are not likely to understand. Sometimes we are faced with the screeching voice of an inner critic, who criticizes everything we do or think. As we struggle, we face this inner critic and we go on living despite it. That is a reason to be proud of ourselves. Of course, our inner critic is going to try to tell us we should not be proud of ourselves. We get up each morning and live with depression and anxiety. We live with whatever mental illness has chosen us. It not an easy task. Our minds, which relay the messages of the inner critic, often work overtime to make us feel like crap. Still, we fight to get through life. No one else hears these thoughts. No one else knows what we are going through. There may not be anyone to tell us we are doing a good job fighting back against depression and anxiety. I want you to know that you should feel proud of yourself. Living with the draining thoughts of depression and anxiety, is not easy. If you are doing it, give yourself grace and be proud of what you are able to do.
Living with Suicidal Thoughts: Recognizing Your Strength
Many of us with living with depression and anxiety must also cope with thoughts about ending our lives. We might think we cannot go on. We may have thoughts that tell us that life is not worth living. People who do not live with these thoughts are often not able to understand what we live with. They may not understand the pain suicidal ideation causes. Those of us living with these thoughts can be proud that we are still here, proud that we have recognized that our stories are not over.
It may seem odd that I am saying someone with suicidal thoughts should be proud of themselves. But really, we should. It takes tremendous strength not to act on these thoughts. If you have never experienced suicidal ideation, it might be difficult to imagine what it is like to live with these thoughts. We hear our minds telling us that life is not worth living. We may try to act on these thoughts. The fact that we are still here is something to be proud of. I want anyone who has had suicidal thoughts to know that your life is worth living and you should be proud of yourself for overcoming the thoughts and still being here. I know this hard. I struggle with it at times. I need to remind myself that I have worked hard to overcome depression and anxiety. When the suicidal thoughts arise and I push back against them or I reach out for help, I am doing something I should be proud of. If you have had this experience, you should be proud of yourself, too.
Why You Should Be Proud of Yourself for Getting Through Difficult Times
Living with mental illness, whatever that illness might be, is difficult. There are many challenges. Even when we have the support of mental health providers, there may be times when our struggle runs deep, and we feel alone. We can be proud of ourselves for continuing to live. We can be proud of ourselves for pushing through the things others do not see.
Give Yourself Grace: Every Day Is Another Chance to Try Again
We all have difficult times. Even people without mental illness go through trying times. We all need to give ourselves the grace to say, it is okay to struggle. It is okay to have setbacks. What matters is that we give ourselves grace and keep trying.
Many of us with mental illness keep parts of our illness to ourselves. We hide the darkness. The depths of depression are not something we want to expose other to. So, the people around us may not know how much we are struggling. There may not be anyone to say they are proud of us for getting through the tough times. We can try to do that for ourselves. It is important to remember that we can be proud of ourselves for getting through the tough times.
If you are struggling, know that you are not alone. Many of us struggle. The important part is not the struggle, it is the willingness to get back up and say, “I will try again.” When we try again, we can be proud of ourselves. We can also be proud of ourselves if we require help. Allowing others to help us is a sign of strength and something to be proud of. Be proud of yourself for all you do that no one else sees or understands.
