Mental Ilness and Self-Concept

Finding out you have a mental illness can be a devastating, life-changing occurrence, but it can also be an empowering one. The effect of the illness, and the label that comes with it, on one’s sense of self is largely a matter of perspective, but other factors such as social and cultural perceptions, unconscious or semi-conscious behavior, and the inherent symptoms of the disease itself all play a role.

When trying to form a sense of who you are in the face of something as potentially life-altering as mental illness, it is crucial to remember that one’s diagnosis is not one’s entire identity. It’s common for a person who has been given a diagnosis of a mental illness to expand that label to encompass every aspect of every level of who zhe is. This is understandable, but it’s neither healthy nor accurate. Every person with a mental illness has a full, rich identity, of which the illness is only one small part.

Most mental illnesses have a damaging effect on self-esteem by their very nature, and being labelled as having one can only exacerbate this effect. Feelings of inadequacy, inferiority, shame and self-hatred are often the unfortunate byproducts of diagnosis. These problems would be far less severe without the social stigmas that still surround mental illness.

The tendency to let one’s diagnosis “take over” has dangerous implications for behavior, as well. After being labelled as having a particular disorder, many people will begin to act more like their impression of what that disorder means: a depressed person may self-harm more often, a person with bipolar disorder may seem to experience wilder mood swings, an person with anorexia will have a more distorted body image. The label can become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

It can also serve as an “excuse” for behaviors associated with the diagnosis (“I shouldn’t ever have to do anything; I’m depressed.”) This can be a source of frustration for the people closest to the person with the disorder, in turn causing guilt and confusion for that person. Needless to say, the emotions involved in the situation quickly become very complicated.

On the other hand, it is possible, albeit difficult, to adjust oneself to the realities of having a mental illness in a positive, healthy, way. People living with mental illness have numerous additional challenges with which to cope with on top of the countless others that are a part of everyday life. Thus, we should be proud of everything we are able to accomplish. As hard as it is to see or admit, it takes a great deal of strength.

People with mental disorders have no reason not to be proud of who they are. They should try everyday to see themselves not as weak or as afflicted with an injustice, but as blessed with the opportunity to learn deeply about themselves and what it means to be happy and to, through their own struggles, help others to learn.

That’s easier said than done, I know, and not something I’ve quite been able to do yet, but it’s an aspiration that gives some purpose to this journey.

I apologize for straying off topic in this one. I hope you don’t mind.

love,

me

02.18.12