Breaking the Stigma: “You’re Not Trying Hard Enough”

Bipolar Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder, Obsess-Compulsive Disorders, Anxiety Disorders, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders are just a few types of mental health conditions that affect millions of people. So let’s define the word “disorder”. A mental health disorder effect changes in mood, emotions, and behavior (or a combination) causing distress and impairment in functioning in social, work, or family activities.  Here are just a few stats:

• nearly one in five (19 percent) U.S. adults experience some form of mental illness
• one in 24 (4.1 percent) has a serious mental illness*
• one in 12 (8.5 percent) has a diagnosable substance use disorder (https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/what-is-mental-illness)

Mental health disorders are highly treatable, yet are still one of the most untreated conditions primarily due to the stigma surrounding it. It is more of the “norm”, in the public, to think that individuals with these conditions should merely adopt more positive thoughts, worked out, ate healthier or just stop being so lazy, then” they could stop their symptoms and if they aren’t succeeding at doing that then they’re “not working hard enough”.

Whether this is said directly like that or not, this is the mentality of many and even those who are suffering from a mental health condition. This way of thinking is so dangerous because it sends the message that they are being weak or lazy. This type of perspective leads to others being judgemental and ignorant of these illnesses. 

While, yes eating right, adopting more positive thoughts, and working out will help create more successful conditions for recovery, these things in and of themselves are not enough. Mental health disorders require treatment and are treatable. However, please continue to spread empathy, compassion, and support to those who are struggling, it is a genuine illness. 

Mandy Morris, LPC

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