Acceptance from parents
Hello, if you don't mind me asking, do your parents accept that you're mentally ill or do they insist on the delusion that you are okay, desperate enough to pass you as "normal" to everyone else? My mother took a while to accept that I'm mentally ill, and as much as she tries to hide it, she considers it shameful.
My parents aren't really aware about mental health and I don't blame them, where I'm from mental health is very stigmatized so I just keep it to myself, I'm alone on this journey also I'm afraid of being gaslighted so that is why I don't share my condition with people around me but my therapist helped my mother understand but still she doesn't fully buy into "mental health issues".
Sadly, a lot of people have been brainwashed by media and society when it comes to mental illness. A lot seem to consider it a fairytale, and what's truly sad is that many of them are in need of a mental health professional themselves. I completely understand why you hide it.
I haven’t told them about OCD specifically but they know about my other disorders. They understood what was happening because it runs in my family, but they didn’t really want to accept that I was suffering too. Although, they did get me help and were there for my first therapy session and psychiatrist appointment so they could have a better idea of what I was dealing with. With OCD on the other hand, I don’t think that’s something I would share with anyone besides my doctor and therapist.
I understand, ocd can feel really "personal", I don't blame you for never talking specifically about it to anyone. I haven't talked about my specific themes to anyone other than my therapist either.
I am very lucky that mine is extremely accepting, but the thing I have an issue with is that having pure O or any issue is extremely isolating because it feels impossible to explain well for me. I hope that you have some friends/family that show empathy first and foremost.
I do have friends that understand, thankfully. Thank you for answering the question. I'm glad you had the support you needed at least, even if it's impossible for others to completely understand you. At least we get that understanding from people that suffer from the same thing. Hang on, and never give up.
Yes, they do. My mom’s a therapist so I’d hope so 😅
Sadly, a lot of therapists don't understand, despite it being their profession(I've even encountered one that only knew the term, so it's personal experience lol), but i sure hope your mother does.
@LydiaK I know they don’t but she specifically knows about OCD and is trained in most avenues. That’s one of the reasons why she’s so popular with her clients: she does nearly everything.
@Nica That's great then, I'm happy she's well versed in her job.
Hey, I have a suggestion but it might not be helpful or you might’ve tried already. if you have a specialist/therapist maybe you can ask to bring your mum along, and your therapist can help you explain it to your mum? If you don’t maybe you can send her informative and helpful videos or articles about your theme/OCD in general? It might just help her have more understanding of what OCD is and why it happens? I hope this suggestion helps, OCD is a scary journey on its own so I know support is really helpful.
She has an understanding of what ocd is, I've shown her books and a lot of other things. She accepts my official diagnosis, it's just that she can't completely accept the situation. She just can't change her perception that mental illness is shameful, but she does try to hide it out of consideration.
@LydiaK In the end day there are sometimes when you just have to walk alone, If I say I'm not scared I'll be lying, I'm afraid that I have to do this on my own but only you can do this no one's gonna do the recovery for you, this is f# sad, mental health are very isolating.
@Moha🍃 I know, and i accept it. Sadly not everyone is going to understand, and that's not only with mental illness, but with life in general. Mental health can be isolating if you view it this way. For me, it's enough that i have at least people here that understand. My friends too, even if they can't completely comprehend what's going on in my mind. I realize of course that not all people are as lucky as me, that's why apps like this one can be life saving.
@LydiaK Indeed, we are lucky we are living in this time, now imagine having OCD in the 70's or the 80's
@Moha🍃 Sounds like a nightmare :') Not to mention the lobotomies that are enough to make me lose sleep.
I am a full recluse. I panic when I try to step outside. When people ask my parents about me, they tell them that I just like staying at home. I hate that. People must believe that I don't consider them worth my time and effort. My parents ( particularly my Dad) seem to be trying to hide my mental illness. Dad said that it's a reflection on him and that people will think I'm mistreated. I can't stop thinking about it. I just feel physically and mentally trapped. I don't know what to do.
When people tell me to accept it, do they mean accept the thought or accept that you have these thoughts. Because I have Suicidal OCD and I get these thoughts and just can’t accept that I could do something like that
Does anyone else get triggered by some of the things people say about accepting and recovering. Idk Like sometimes I feel like my thoughts are so awful how could i ever come to accept that and let it roam free in my brain. I think that makes my fear worse especially when it comes to magical thinking :(
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