Opinion on metal health?

[Anonymous]

My mother believes that therapy is a complete waste of money, and that all problems can be solved with mind power alone.

I believe that talking to someone, like a therapist or councillor, can help with expressing feelings. And even if there's nothing wrong with you, its good to let out your thoughts. Even though some things can be easily overcome, some people weren't designed to be able to overcome things alone

Who do you think has the better opinion?

Your Mother.

You.

[Anonymous]

She probably thinks that because nowadays people call "mental health" so easy. Bad day? You've got depression? Worried about elevators? ptsd. Had a good day yesterday and a bad day today? bi polar.
Therapy used to be a thing people went to when they had real problems, but nowadays everybodys aunt and their dog says they need therapy, I think this is why your mother thinks that. Just when people have REAL problems nowadays, the people with no problems who say they do really damage things for people who genuinely do.
Like I have a friend who is a complete brat, loses her temper when she doesn't get her way, and is rude to people- she's going to therapy now because she says it'll help her problems, but really all she needed was maybe some discipline growing up (she had none) she doesn't lose her temper at scary people to, so you know...
Anyway, because of these situations with everybody running to therapy for every little thing, it really makes things difficult for those with genuine problems who people tell to "get over things" to, that's how some people even end up killing themselves, because everybody thinks depression and those things can be easily overcome.
We don't need to run to therapy for normal life, we just need to learn to deal with life. Life is hard, our brains can be crazy, but it's just part of growing and learning and dealing with life.

[Asker]

Okay, how about this.
My mother has post-traumatic stress disorder, my step-father was physically and mentally abusive, my younger brother is disabled and can't do anything unassisted, I have a difficult time learning at school, I've been self harming for three years to make me feel better, and my mother is an alcoholic.
Do I need help yet?

[Chronos91]

Some therapists may not use an approach suited to the patient. Some medications can be ineffective for certain people. But always, ALWAYS, seeking help is the better option.

Of course, there are some problems you can simply hash out with friends, family or an Agony Aunt. But these people aren't professionals and may be too involved in the situation to assess it objectively. And there are issues that can leave a lasting damage on you and your life. Furthermore, the ultimate goal of therapy is 'knowledge of thyself'. That is one of the powerful assets one can acquire to face the challenges of life.

[jmr2191]

In addition to psychological research, there's social, neurological, immunological and endocrinological research that show overwhelming evidence about the connection between mind and body, as well as psychotherapy as an important component of treatment for many physical and psychiatric disorders. Much of the stigma surrounding psychotherapy comes from a gross misunderstanding of what it is, what it isn't and who can benefit from it.

[meatballs21]

Your mother is unfortunately one of the millions who stigmatizes mental health as being made up and something people 'just need to get over'. Someone who has real mental illness needs and deserves all the therapy, medication and love required to help them.

Tell your mother that if it was that simple to just will your depression away, people would?

[Asker]

That's a very excellent point.

[crazyincalifornia]

That's too bad. My mom and dad sought marriage counseling during their fourth year of marriage. They went for 2 years and to this day claim it saved their marriage.
I have received counseling and I believe it helped me to understand myself better. I was also surprised how many other girls felt the same way I did because I felt pretty much alone.
People that seek counseling are problem solvers, not deniers. We all have problems.
:))

[doireallyneedone]

Of course mental health is real. Government isn't wasting millions maybe billions of dollars funding mental health research, funding mental health drugs, training mental health professionals if it doesn't exist.

[ThisAndThat]

Sounds like there may be something going on. You're not damaged in any way you just need a little attention somewhere a bit of a boost. Ask your mom to give it a shot and see what happens. If it won't help, it can't hurt can it?

[Asker]

I can't ask her to give me a shot. She refuses to think that I might be miserable with my life, because I don't have it as bad as she had it.

[ThisAndThat]

Hey I read some of the comments below and I've been there before very similar circumstances as yours. Feel free to message me if you want. Maybe I can figure something out for you. But don't hurt yourself you are a good person and the things you're going through it's not your fault.

[JustinCaseUDontKnow]

If you feel like your going act out ( self harm) / severely depressed
anxious than you every right to get a counselor to help you :)

[Anonymous]

at least someone elses opinion can help you to see things from a different perspective but in other ways unravelling things all the time can make you tangled up