I said last night this particular day sparked something within me.
We've been talking her about awareness; reducing the stigma around mental issues. Which is about letting people without such issues be more accepting of those that have these issues. Just as we wouldn't (or at least shouldn't) shun people with cancer or AIDS, we shouldn't give a cold shoulder to those that are struggle with a mental illness.
But more than that, it's about those who suffer from these inflictions to realize that they are not alone, that they shouldn't be ashamed of who they are or how they feel, and that with help there is hope.
I particularly suffer from the middle part there. As I said earlier in this thread, my particular issue is food addiction. I would say "today is the day that I am going to prove to myself that I have the self control, the willpower and the strength not to overeat" and then by the end of the day I would just blow it. And I'd feel absolutely ashamed to be alive. And I'd treat that shame with comfort foods. If I accept that it's not that I am an awful and weak human being and that something is wired wrong in my head that makes me overindulge, that does NOT absolve me of finding a solution, it only means that I'm not the worthless person that I feel like when I binge eat.
Similarly, those that suffer from depression have the same issues of shame and want to keep their affliction hidden. So many people hide their depression out of shame. If they come to accept that it's not their fault that they feel as they do, hopefully it should less their burden.
Like I said earlier in this thread, I'm seeing a therapist for the first time in my life tomorrow and I'm looking forward to it. I'm hopeful that we can find a way to deal with my particular addiction.
Despite the binge eating, I have been able to keep my weight reasonably in control. But only because after I binge eat, I punish myself with a couple hours on the treadmill and another couple on the elliptical. So in my particular case, "more exercise" isn't the answer it is for other forms of mental illness. But I'll put my hope in the hands of the specialists at the Ottawa Hospital and see what they come up with.
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