#seeking mental health support

[roshni99]

One in seven Indians faces mental health issues, and men often battle silently due to stigma. Let's shatter the silence and foster a supportive environment. Here's how: 1️⃣ Educate: Early mental health education is crucial to dispel fears and encourage open conversations. 2️⃣ Role Models: Men embracing mental health self-care set a powerful example for the younger generation. 3️⃣ Workplace Understanding: Organizations, let's integrate mental health support into policies and practices. Recognize the signs: mood swings, sleep changes, persistent sadness. Speak up, seek help. Together, we can make a difference. 💪 #MentalHealthMatters #BreakTheSilence #InternationalMensDay #SupportEachOther 🌈 For more information, visit: https://www.raphacure.com For professional support and essential tools, don't forget to download our mobile app: 📲 Android: http://bit.ly/3JACQOb 🍏 Apple: https://apple.co/3I0QKbe 🌟🤩 men's mental health,mental health,breaking the silence,mental health awareness,men's health,men's mental health month,mental health tips,men's mental wellness,mens mental health,let's talk mental health month,men's mental health awareness month,how to improve mental health,men's mental health awareness,men's mental health depression,mental health challenges,seeking mental health support,men's mental health channel 5,mental health awareness month

[giantkillerjack]

Today my therapist introduced me to a concept surrounding disability that she called "hLep".

[plain-text version of this post can be found under the cut]

Which is when you - in this case, you are a disabled person - ask someone for help ("I can't drink almond milk so can you get me some whole milk?", or "Please call Donna and ask her to pick up the car for me."), and they say yes, and then they do something that is not what you asked for but is what they think you should have asked for ("I know you said you wanted whole, but I got you skim milk because it's better for you!", "I didn't want to ruin Donna's day by asking her that, so I spent your money on an expensive towing service!") And then if you get annoyed at them for ignoring what you actually asked for - and often it has already happened repeatedly - they get angry because they "were just helping you! You should be grateful!!"

And my therapist pointed out that this is not "help", it's "hLep".

Sure, it looks like help; it kind of sounds like help too; and if it was adjusted just a little bit, it could be help. But it's not help. It's hLep.

At its best, it is patronizing and makes a person feel unvalued and un-listened-to. Always, it reinforces the false idea that disabled people can't be trusted with our own care. And at its worst, it results in disabled people losing our freedom and control over our lives, and also being unable to actually access what we need to survive.

So please, when a disabled person asks you for help on something, don't be a hLeper, be a helper! In other words: they know better than you what they need, and the best way you can honor the trust they've put in you is to believe that!

Also, I want to be very clear that the "getting angry at a disabled person's attempts to point out harmful behavior" part of this makes the whole thing WAY worse. Like it'd be one thing if my roommate bought me some passive-aggressive skim milk, but then they heard what I had to say, and they apologized and did better in the future - our relationship could bounce back from that. But it is very much another thing to have a crying shouting match with someone who is furious at you for saying something they did was ableist. Like, Christ, Jessica, remind me to never ask for your support ever again! You make me feel like if I asked you to call 911, you'd order a pizza because you know I'll feel better once I eat something!!

Edit: crediting my therapist by name with her permission - this term was coined by Nahime Aguirre Mtanous!

Edit again: I made an optional follow-up to this post after seeing the responses. Might help somebody. CW for me frankly talking about how dangerous hLep really is.

Plain-text version:

Today my therapist introduced me to a concept surrounding disability that she called "hLep".

Which is when you - in this case, you are a disabled person - ask someone for help ("I can't drink almond milk so can you get me some whole milk?", or "Please call Donna and ask her to pick up the car for me."), and they say yes, and then they do something that is not what you asked for but is what they think you should have asked for ("I know you said you wanted whole, but I got you skim milk because it's better for you!", "I didn't want to ruin Donna's day by asking her that, so I spent your money on an expensive towing service!") And then if you get annoyed at them for ignoring what you actually asked for - and often it has already happened repeatedly - they get angry because they "were just helping you! You should be grateful!!"

And my therapist pointed out that this is not "help", it's "hLep".

Sure, it looks like help; it kind of sounds like help too; and if it was adjusted just a little bit, it could be help. But it's not help. It's hLep.

At its best, it is patronizing and makes a person feel unvalued and un-listened-to. Always, it reinforces the false idea that disabled people can't be trusted with our own care. And at its worst, it results in disabled people losing our freedom and control over our lives, and also being unable to actually access what we need to survive.

So please, when a disabled person asks you for help on something, don't be a hLeper, be a helper! In other words: they know better than you what they need, and the best way you can honor the trust they've put in you is to believe that!

P.S. Also, I want to be very clear that the "getting angry at a disabled person's attempts to point out harmful behavior" part of this makes the whole thing WAY worse. Like it'd be one thing if my roommate bought me some passive-aggressive skim milk, but then they heard what I had to say, and they apologized and did better in the future - our relationship could bounce back from that. But it is very much another thing to have a crying shouting match with someone who is furious at you for saying something they did was ableist. Like, Christ, Jessica, remind me to never ask for your support ever again! You make me feel like if I asked you to call 911, you'd order a pizza because you know I'll feel better once I eat something!!

Edit: crediting my therapist by name with her permission - this term was coined by Nahime Aguirre Mtanous!

Edit again: I made an optional follow-up to this post after seeing the responses. Might help somebody. CW for me frankly talking about how dangerous hLep really is.

[unsolicitedadvicecatlady]

A clarion call to put an end to cosplaying diagnoses

First off, it's cheapening the experiences of people who have actually been diagnosed.

Secondly, it's promoting stigma and misinformation.

A diagnosis is not a shield to hide behind or a weapon to bash people with. It's a life-altering piece of news to a suffering individual.

It's not cute, it's not trendy, it's not a joke.

There are protections in place for people with diagnosed disabilities to foster environments that are accessible and open for all; not to give people internet clout, not for attention, not for distracting from the issues on the table.

Claiming a disability without going through the proper channels is, to me, a lot like stolen valor. If it's against the law to pretend to be a veteran to reap benefits not earned, the same principle ought to be applied to people claiming they have been diagnosed with an illness without a formal assessment.

I am not talking about people who suspect they have a health concern and haven't been able to get a formal diagnosis but plan to, I'm talking about people who have no intention of receiving a valid diagnosis but want to claim they have it.

Receiving a diagnosis is life changing. It can be devastating; it can be a relief. With a diagnosis comes a responsibility to take action based off of the information that has now been received. There is now an opportunity to seek therapeutic intervention and to get help, whereas before it was only suffering without knowing why or what to do about it.

It's a disgusting trend that people are claiming to have a diagnosis for attention or even to rationalize their behavior. It needs to stop.

Sincerely, A legitimately ill mo-fo who will kick your ass if you're falsely claiming a disorder thinking it will save you from the consequences of shitty behavior.

[creative-chaos-apparently]

BESTIE HOW ARE WE FEELING ABOUT THE SOLDIER POET KING MUSIC VIDEO AND PINS

Im handling it pretty well.

[artofkhaos404]

Hey, guys. I don't usually post anything about my personal life on this page, and if I do it's usually vague, but I'm curious to get some thought, and maybe support, from the community during this next stage of my life.

I've battled with fairly major mental illness for at least half of my life but never had the option to attempt recovery or even address the issue in general. However, recently I have all but lost my ability to function and there seems to be no other option left but to seek help. I'll be having my first ever therapy session this month, and to be honest, I don't think I've even fully comprehended that yet. Feels like I have years worth of secrets, symptoms and stories to unbury from the depths of suppressed memory...

Does anyone have any advice, tips or thoughts on beginning therapy? Where to start? What to avoid? How to go about opening up? Good therapists versus bad therapists? I'll take anything you guys got.

Thanks 🖤🖤🖤

[sucha-coolcat]

I’m like two steps short of making an Instagram story begging people for validation and kindness because I cannot find it in myself

[nei-ning]

Never before have I asked help for my mental state from hospitals (I always have talked with my sis or friends) but today I simply had to. I honestly felt I can't anymore, that everything is falling on me etc. Lots of horrible feelings.

So I walked to local hospital, meeting a nurse in the waiting area. She looked at me and asked what I am there for. I instantly burst into tears, saying I just can't anymore. She rushed to hug me, asking am I having mental issues. I said yes and she instantly escorted me in small waiting room. She stood by my side, rubbing my back and shoulder as I told her everything. She bend to hug me more, holding me. She was so sweet and kind. She told me to wait while she would go get a doctor.

Doctor came and took me in his personal room. He said nurse already had told him what's going on but he wanted to hear it all from me too. I started to cry hard again, telling him everything. I told him I've been having issues to sleep for 3 weeks now, I just can't go on alone anymore, I have been having depression symptoms for years, no longer I get joy from things which brought me joy in the past, I can't eat and I drink very little, I see nightmares every night, I wake up sweating, I get panic-, anxiety- and depression attacks etc.

He listened to me while writing notes to himself, asking things carefully at times. He finally said that he can give me pills (I get them tomorrow from pharmacy) which are now first-aid to my situation. They help me sleep better and reduce my symptoms. However, he was very firm, in gentle way, when he said that in Monday I need to contact my own hospital and go there to talk with therapist and get better medication for depression. He was especially worried since my sleep issues have been going on for 3 weeks now.

I told him I've try to go on on my own in life, thinking my depression symptoms are actually symptoms of being bored and nothing more. I also admitted that I can't go more further on my own anymore. That I have come to my point of asking help.

He smiled gently while looking in my eyes, saying: "I am happy you are here now."

So, tomorrow I get the pills from local pharmacy and on Monday I can book a time for nurse / doctor online, telling them everything there and see how things start to go from there.

I feel a bit more relieved now but there's still these anxious feelings and thoughts, bringing fear and panic attacks. And tears. Lots and lots of tears.

[edwardshundredyearoldspunk]

I really think you're telling on yourself if you actually think that people are diagnosing themselves with every and any mental disorder in the DSM-5 from a tiktok. chronically online of you to think this tbh. it's giving, "I don't actually talk to people irl and all my information about this is from social media."

[rayshippouuchiha]

Hi ray! Umm well I’m not good at expressing feelings but um. I really love your blog it’s like a happy place for me. I’ve not been doing well this past few months. It’s a repeat cycle of being ok, relapsing and feeling my mental health go down the drain and crying then back to being ok. And right now I can’t seem to cry about what happened but umm. I’m not sure feeling numb is good too? I’m just really confused about how I feel and I don’t know who to talk to. But I really love how your blog is a safe haven for me. So yeah, thanks for listening to me rambling 

[kindnessoverperfection]

I can't stand being open about negative emotions, but covering them up feels like a fucking knife to the chest.

I think it's because the system is autistic and misses social cues / boundaries, so Grey has overshared and accidentally put too much on people in the past.

And from a combination of autism trauma + abuse & us not actually knowing the line between healthy sharing/support and Too Much, my brain processed it as "if you admit you're having a hard time or ask for support, they won't love you"

[kc22invesmentsblog]

Embracing Self-Care: Prioritizing Yourself in a Hectic World

What could you do more of? Written by Delvin In today’s fast-paced and demanding world, it’s easy to get caught up in the never-ending cycle of responsibilities and obligations. Amidst the chaos, we often forget to prioritize the most important person in our lives: ourselves. Self-care is not selfish; it is a crucial aspect of leading a fulfilling and balanced life. In this blog post, we will…

[inkubye]

[giorgio52fan]

Helping Teens Reduce Self-Imposed Pressure: A Comprehensive Guide

In today’s fast-paced and competitive world, teenagers often find themselves under immense pressure to excel academically, socially, and in various other aspects of their lives. This self-imposed pressure can lead to stress, anxiety, and even burnout. As parents, educators, and mentors, it’s crucial to provide guidance and support to help teens navigate these challenges and learn to put less…

[toweringclam]

I have something I've taken to call "itchy brain" where I'll suddenly start interpreting things in a very paranoid, personal way. People are against me. They're arguing with me just to argue. They're deliberately misinterpreting me. They don't care at all or they care too much. It genuinely feels like I have a sort of itch in my consciousness and I can't stop scratching it until it bleeds. I'll freak out and start begging them to tell me what's really going on or I'll start ranting about how what they said came off to me. I'll just start crying as I get in a spiral of trying to explain myself.

And then it stops.

Suddenly, I become completely aware of just how insane I'm acting. It's like this flood of negative emotions just evaporates. Which is weird because you think I'd still feel it from all the stress hormones. But no, suddenly I'm back to normal, albeit very embarrassed about my behavior over the past few minutes.

Most things I've looked into require you to feel it a lot longer-term, like days at the minimum. But it only lasts a few minutes, and I can go weeks without this problem. Intermittent explosive disorder might fit better, but it's not anger. It's fear and hurt and confusion. It might be a trauma trigger, but what could possibly be triggering it and why, I have no idea. It's not an autistic meltdown, those feel different. More overwhelming, less itchy.

IDK, Tumblr seems to be good at diagnosing brainwrong. If anyone knows wtf is up with me, please let me know, and share this if you don't.

[mental-health-advice]

I am preparing for a competitive exam and I can’t put myself to even shower daily forget about studying daily. I was seeking therapy and then we decided that I can cope on my own but I’m still on meds(mood stabiliser and got off antidepressants few months ago). I was diagnosed with depression last year and I seeked therapy for about a year. Now I’m off therapy and I have trouble doing things and starting things, I fall asleep way easily during my online lectures and because I’m not so productive I beat myself up over it and tell myself that I’ll start all over again tomorrow … with a new timetable and what not and then I don’t follow it. I procrastinate all day and then I still go to bed tired and sleepy. I also have trouble eating all my meds.

I want to do well in my competitive exam and get into a good college but I am overwhelmed with the number of exams I’ll have to give and the number of admission forms I have to fill. And my dad who used to help me with all this now doesn’t help with admission forms saying “I have grown old you deal with it” 😭😭

I have been binge watching phineas and ferb because that makes me go haha lol.

Do you think I need to go back to therapy? Also, how should I tackle procrastination and not fall into loop of sleeping all day and not doing the basic chores even like showering daily. Also, I have an upcoming appointment with a psychiatrist should I tell him all of this?

This is my first ask, I hope you respond as soon as possible. Thank you!

Hey there,

Firstly, I am glad that you have an upcoming appointment with a psychiatrist. This is a really positive step and if you are able to, I would encourage you to share as much with them as you can in regards to how you are currently feeling and coping with things. i.e. struggling to do everyday things like showering for example. I am also not a qualified medical professional but it sounds as though maybe restarting anti-depressants may also be considered by your psychiatrist and especially if they were helpful when you were last on them. Sometimes people can be on AD’s for a good few years or even for longer until they find the relevant coping strategies to enable them to do everyday things, and sometimes people may need to be on a medication for life as they may have a chemical imbalance that they need a psych med to help balance things out which I am thinking is partly why you are still on your mood stabiliser but right now you may be needing something extra or a higher dosage to help you through – I am by no means a doctor though so don’t quote me on this!

Studying for any type of exam can be really stressful and overwhelming for anyone, so it’s only natural that you are finding things quite tough right now and are finding even the little things hard to do. Have you ever thought of writing out a list of daily things you need to get done/ do each day and once completing these things crossing them off the list? I know that for me this helps me to get back into a routine and especially when I get to see the list getting smaller and smaller with each task I achieve. Just an idea! Doing this may also be more helpful than a simple timetable as well due to looking as a timetable can seem quite overwhelming and especially when you are already finding things difficult. Trying to get yourself into a bit of a routine (even if you only do one or two things a day to get started) can also help you to stay awake and then help you to get a better sleep at nights, so this is also something else to consider!

In regards to filling out admission forms, one thing I find helpful again for myself is to just focus on filling out or answering one or two questions each day. If you break the forms up and only focus on a section at a time then it may seem more achievable if that makes sense and this too can be part of your routine and especially if you have a bit to fill out/ answer.

For the time being starting therapy again may also be helpful for you and especially in this really stressful period. Even if you just use the sessions to vent or offload what’s on your mind. This may make it a bit easier for you to then refocus your attention on your studies and upcoming exams as you may find you are not worrying so much on other life stressors if that makes sense. And remember that it’s more than OK to ask and reach out for help and support again, it doesn’t mean you have gone backwards in your recovery, just that you need an extra helping hand and by asking for help, it actually shows your strength in knowing and being able to acknowledge when you are needing some extra support. And like your upcoming psychiatrist appointment, this too is a big positive if you are feeling that therapy would be beneficial for you to restart!

I really hope that this has helped a bit and please do let us know if we can help to support you in any other way!

I’m thinking of you, hope that you are going well and wish you all the best with your exams!

Take care,

Lauren