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Hey Pandas, What Mental Health Problem Do You Have That You Wish You Could Raise More Awareness About? (Closed)
What is a mental health problem you have that you wish you could raise more awareness about? Maybe it's taboo, or misrepresented in the media. Maybe people don't even know it exists. I'd like to create a safe space for everyone to share their stories and learn from each other :)
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Misophonia.
eating with people is hell and i can't even say anything without coming across as rude. a girl eats a cracker three seats away from me and i feel lik throwing up. I eat with my family and i want to cry because my brother is eating with his mouth open making a lot of noise on purpose. My mother is helping me proofread my paper and I can't concentrate because she is drinking coffee. I can hardly even stand the sound of my own chewing. it is awful.
Being transgender is not a mental health problem, but it can lead to mental health problems, especially when people refuse to accept a trangendered persons identity/gender/pronouns.
Mental health problems are often to a large degree self inflicted, and we need to work on ourselves to deal with them. However when people do not accept transgender people, the cause for a lot of the mental health is external. A transgender person cannot help that, it takes the ignorant and the abusive to learn to treat people with respect. Unfortunately, for those who simplistically think sex and gender are the same, that your genitals ultimately determine who you are, not your mind, your identity, your personality, they see nothing "wrong" with their thinking and continue, knowingly or not, to bully, abuse, harass and CAUSE the mental health problems of transgender people.
This really needs to be understood more. It's not being trans that causes mental illness it's transphobia. U can't use suicide rates of trans people as an anti trans argument without understanding it's the misunderstandings
Clinical depression. I was diagnosed as a pre-teen and it runs in my family. I know a lot of people suffer from depression due to circumstances but those are often the same people that fail to realize the limitations/severity that come with clinical depression. If you've ever struggled to take a shower, brush your teeth, eat or just get out of bed I want you to know that I see you.
BP fam has your back. I'm proud of you. I'm proud you continue with your life. I'm proud you kept going despite your bad days. Keep it up. Stay determined. Good times will come.
Hi ADHD is not just hyper or attention problems it legit sucks a*s sometimes and makes me want to cry on occasion thank you goodbye
also adderall is a b***h bc you get used to being functional and when the supply chain is f****d up you have PROBLEMS and also adderall + ADHD + caffine does not work for me and that just happened so my brain is going zoom
and for all the people who say ADHD isn't real: That's literally like saying autism isn't real.
People think an anxiety attack is like a panic attack where you're all jumpy and nervous but it's all in the mind and so the person is actually quiet and fighting their mind.
Anxiety attacks can lead to panic attacks but they are not the same thing
I have paranoia that has been caused by severe anxiety, both GAD and social anxiety. It's not the only mental illness I have but I feel like many people just categorise it under "anxiety" when it can sometimes be very different. Paranoia is not just trusting people, its when you think that others are actively trying to hurt or deceive you and it can be seen in many different forms for different people. It can range from just a general distrust and suspicion, to always being defensive or aggressive, to believing in unfounded conspiracy theories. For me, I find it very difficult to build and maintain relationships and I am always suspicious of my friends so that makes it very difficult for me to share stuff with them. I hate it when people ask me personal questions and I usually get angry when they don't accept me not wanting to answer. I change my passwords to all websites regularly, usually at least once a month, and I have multiple email addresses for different website accounts. My paranoia also makes it very difficult for me to share things with my family or my therapist which makes it difficult for me to get help as I am afraid of what they might do with the stuff that I tell them. I constantly feel like I am being followed and watched and I used to have delusions of seeing random eyes wherever I went (but thankfully I am getting help that is slowly managing and fixing this). This led to me staying home and avoiding communicating with anyone which worsened my depression. (Just reminding that this is how it manifests in me, it is a different experience for everyone with paranoia.)
If someone you know has paranoia or paranoid delusions, do some research on how you can help them. This can include (for me, it differs with each person what works for them) always being brutally honest, being kind and understanding and patient when I may stop contacting you for periods of time, learning more about the disorder, making strategies so I feel safe and lastly please ask me how I feel and what they can do. Even though I probably won't be honest, it makes me feel a little bit better and more validated.
Sorry for such a long post, I just wanted to educate. There is many other things that I can't explain because I don't have the words, but I just want people to understand that anxiety and paranoia are not the same and having one does not mean you have the other. Also, please don't treat us like we are crazy freaks that always have 20 locks on our doors and are violent conspiracy theorists. Fiction always takes the worst parts of a mental illness and turns it into something worse. We are still people who have feelings.
I have paranoia that has been controlled a little bit, and it's due to my extreme anxiety. I can't be home alone without a knife in my hand (Now I can), have to lock my doors at night, always find escape routes, I always question my friend's true intentions, always...
So technically more of a mental disorder, but ASD or Autism Spectrum Disorder. First of all, stop calling it Asperger’s syndrome, Asperg was a Nazi doctor who did horrid experiments. Second of all, stop with the puzzle piece, use the golden or rainbow infinity symbol instead. Third it is not a linear spectrum, but more of a pie chart of sorts. Fourth of all, if anything has the words Autism Speaks on it, don’t support it, they are a vile and disgusting organization. Fifth of all, we are not all the same and we all have our own needs that differ from each other. There is so much more I can say on the topic but those are the basics. I would also encourage you to do your own research and ask other people with Autism about it if they are comfortable.
Hey, I'm also a fellow autistic here, I'm more high functioning (I.E I can talk, have a long conversation, the only issue is obsessions, I tend to get obsessed over different things and for a periodof time)
...Adhd...
It's like bees in my head, I do something, but they say, nah bro let's go play with the cat. Then I for some reason listen to them. It's made learning hard for me, and I can't control it. I'm not sure why. I've taken the medication for a bit now, and it's gotten a bit better.
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I feel like there's something off that I don't know, or like I'm being judged by everyone, that everyone hates me, I'm a terrible person, and that I'm so useless and stupid that I'm a waste of air to the world. I sometimes get these weird swings a few times a week, and I just feel like a blob of sad patheticness. I feel pathetic because my only job is to learn, my parents have my entire education planned, and I'm just a waste of their time because even with the help, I fail so hard and badly. It's like being a fish in the perfect pond but doesn't know how to swim. I wonder if my future is worth living through, and even if I did, would I do anything with it? Or sometimes I feel nothing. Just blank. I still cry, but I don't feel anything with the cry.just blank. It's like cold rage but no rage. I'm not sure what this is. I'm confused. Anyone know or have any ideas?
Writing this is kind of hard, as this is the first time I've posted, let alone be about my issues... I'm sorry if this was long.
why does my mom not want me to get tested then? i feel like crying because i just realized i'm not alone in this.
OCD. I have Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and it is so much more than wanting things tidy or turning the lights on and off 16 times. As a matter of fact, OCD has very little do with wanting things clean. It is intrusive thoughts that you obsess over so much that you tick/create rituals (like flipping the lights on and off) in order combat these thoughts. The ticks or rituals are almost like you are creating your own "superstition" to deal with the obsession or hyper-fixation. My OCD is anxiety driven so when I am anxious, I may tick or start to have an episode of obsession.
For instance, if I am having an episode, a coworker can walk by and say "Hi," and my brain will think something is weird about that "Hi" and immediately start obsessing over what I could have done, I will go back and read every email I sent her, I will start replaying every conversation I have had with her, etc. I will not sleep for days trying to figure out why that particular "hi" was off and what I could do. Then, if the next time she walks by and says hi to me and it isn't weird to my brain, I will try to keep things exactly the way they are at that moment in time so she won't be weird to me any more - that is why there is always a blue notebook in the upper left corner of my desk.
Yeah, medication helps, but sometimes the thoughts get through.
Yes! If anyone at school finds out I have OCD they start making jokes about how they are “a little OCD” and like things neat and a lot of the time I just roll my eyes. It’s hard to explain that I made 10 paper cranes every day for a year because otherwise I felt anxious and icky.
To anyone going through something right now:
I feel you. It's hard. I know. It's scary sometimes, or sad.ive been there. Keep going
. It's scary and can be sad, but keep going. I'm rooting for you. Stay determined. You got this.
-Biusness Shark
Extreme phobia. I have a extreme case of needle phobia. Some day there may come a situation where i have to choose between needles(bloodwork, dialysis etc.) or dying and for me its an easy choice as I've had time to process it but for the people around me it will seem unbelievable that i will choose death. For me it isn't a choice any more than for the average person it would be to step off a high building.
I am in therapy for this but do not see it helping enough to chainage the end result
I have severe anxiety. I wish people would realize how hard and unpredictable it can be. Last week I had a panic attack Becuase I had 7 pages of notes due, 3 worksheets and had to ask for a new eraser. I didn’t finish any of my work becuase I was crying in the bathroom. My friend made fun of me and told me it’s not that hard to just do your work stop being a wimp. We are obvi no longer friends. I’ve had panic attacks at the possibility of doing something wrong, or realizing I might forget to do something tommorow. It sounds stupid but you have to understand it’s a really hard and unpredictable disorder
I feel you out there fam. It's hard. We got your back. Keep it up, stay determined.
A panic disorder; everyone's experience is different, but I can speak to my own.
Sometimes I can go from fine one moment to mentally overwhelmed and hyperventilating the next without knowing the trigger. I try my best to excuse myself if I feel one coming on, because it can be messy. It feels horrible, but it always passes. I just need that time to let it run its course. Afterwards for an hour or two it's pretty hard to concentrate. I've had to learn what I can do ("mental hacks") in order to reduce the time and disruption they have to my life. Things like sitting near a window, keeping my cane with me if I'm particularly anxious, having something really sour like an airhead to eat, etc.
I am a researcher so depending on the timing, I could have ample time alone, be highly alert out in the forest, or be communicating with people. Thankfully in the latter two cases, adrenaline seems to push them off a bit?
A lot of people assume that it's something people do for attention; as someone who has to go out of their way to conceal it from others I can assure that it is a legitimate thing. I really hope that diverse mental health topics continue to make their way into mainstream conversation. I am just as capable as my colleagues, and just as others may have their means of managing migraines or other health concerns, this is mine.
Suic!dal thoughts...
No one ever talks about them, but most people have them from time to time. In schools we NEED to have more tools to help with anxiety, depression, mild autism, and so much more. I have a 504 plan to help with my anxiety, but they can't just give these out to everyone, so there needs to be more tools to help cope with all of this. And for once can schools actually get a qualified and good counselor/therapist that kids feel comfortable talking to? We need more than just health classes, but mental health classes because not everyone can afford therapy/counseling. Suic!dal thoughts are a huge part of anxiety and depression and more tools in schools can cause school to be less stressful and prevent these thoughts. Thank you for reading because this is a very important topic that is never discussed and needs to be. Thank you.
Yeah my post on this is similar... There really isn't anywhere you can feel comfortable talking about it except with close friends a
Borderline Personality Disorder. It does not always go with Narcissistic Personality Disorder. They are two separate things. Yes, some people have both, but they are not the same thing. Please stop stigmatizing BPD and automatically assuming the BPD person is a narcissist. People with just BPD actually care a lot, sometimes too much, about other people. I'm afraid to tell people I've been diagnosed with it for fear of them leaving me because that has happened before. I know we can be very scary when we're angry, but can be VERY difficult to control. I'm not trying to justify our behavior, just trying to shed some light in it. We are VERY black and white thinkers and tend to take things to the extreme. Therapy is really the only treatment for it and it takes a LONG time. If you know we're actively working on ourselves, PLEASE be patient with us and PLEASE don't leave us. We need support, we need reassurance that you care about us. We need to hear you say it. I'm not saying that if a BPD person is being abusive to just put up with it. If ANYONE is being abusive, cut them out of your life, especially if they don't own up to their shítty behavior. Just stop stigmatizing BPD. Sorry this is so long, I just need people to be aware of exactly what this is.
I met someone at the hospital with BPD. He was a good kid, fun to bop with, but his personality would change so quickly and hold for a few hours or so. However, I knew this would change back to another personality, so I waited it out. He had no idea, and I could never imagine dealing with this. I send love from an ally.
Arthritis. I have arthritis in my spine which (obviously) causes a lot of pain, not just in my back, it also affects most joints in my legs. Because I currently can work, I do and my employers are very good at adapting my role so I can continue working (eg when I need to clean on low surfaces I use a mop or broom instead of kneeling on the floor, generally things like this so while it may not be done as well as should be, it's still done). I used to love going out doing long walks, going to a gym etc. I now can't do this because of the pain. I do yoga stretches, but the teacher and I have adapted them to the level I can do. I can't - or won't - have a dog because there's sometimes days/weeks when the pain is bad and I can't walk far so I feel it would be unfair to the animal.When my pain is worse I do park in a disabled space - and I've had customers film me leaving work and getting into my car but not said one word to me. I think their 'slogan' is arthritis doesn't kill, but can end your life. For me that says it all/
Sorry - I completely misread the title. My apologies as I can't seem to delete it.
Pediatric Bipolar disorder. Kids can have mental health issues too!
I think kids having mental disorders is overlooked a lot. I've probably had anxiety longer than my depression, aka a long time. I noticed my anxiety start to pop up around 4th grade (around 10 years old) but I thought it was normal and it wasn't ever brought up.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). A long-term condition that causes an individual to feel anxious about a wide range of situations and issues, rather than a specific event. People with GAD feel anxious most days and often struggle to remember the last time they felt relaxed.
I was diagnosed with GAD as a post-covid complication and now it's been more than a year that I'm dealing with this. Different people have different opinion, and none seem to help. The thing with it is that I have a chaotic mind and there's so much going on at a time. I suffered a panic attack due to this and I'm on medication since.
I cannot stress enough how this hampers my daily life. People think I'm lazy. The medicines make me feel sleepy and drowsy. It messes with my mind. I'm trying my best to come out of this.
You're not alone. I'm right there with you. I got diagnosed a few months ago and I don't think my meds are helping. We got this <3
Bi polar disorder...
Growing up a lot of people would claim to be bi polar like it was cool. Up and down all day every day is not cool.
That's ridiculous... Look it up and you will see why. Moods can change in an instant. Off and on in an hour sometimes. Depends on day.
People talk about lung and breast cancer frequently, but I'm going to bring up cancer and how it affects your mental health.
See, I got diagnosed with stage I Thyroid Cancer (A really common one), and I had my entire thyroid removed. But the thing is, I felt that lump on my neck, I fought like hell to get it checked out. But now, I regret it, as I now can't relax because of cancer screenings and talks about what will happen if it comes back. Now, my anxiety is worse over bumps in my body, especially my neck, as I constantly fear my cancer is back. But my stepmother, a glioblastoma survivor, has mental health issues and the fear of the cancer coming back (She had it when she was in second grade), and struggled a lot through the pain. Many cancer survivors I've met panicked over symptoms of a relapse, as the pain is awful and you never want to go through it again. I have a friend with cured leukemia who panicked over a large bruise he found, and it turned out to be a benign cause. Cancer will hurt your mental health, and I feel people need to know this.
That is horrible, I can't sympathize, but, if it makes you feel better, they just found that a compound in bee venom helps to open the pores in cancer cells and is really good at combatting it
OSDD
I have met SO many people who have no idea what OSDD is
OSDD is Other Specified Dissociative Disorder. It's similar to DID, but there can either be no clear alters (OSDD1A) or no gaps of memory (OSDD1B, what we have). A lot of people I have met seem confused when we say we have OSDD and think we have DID when that isn't the case
Please do research, not all dissociative disorders are the same
I'd also like to clarify that those aren't the ONLY possibilities for OSDD, just the most common types. Again, please do research
Maladaptive daydreaming. Can't call it a disorder because it's not officially recognised. But it sucks
There's some debate whether this counts as a mental health disorder. Personally I think it does but you are free to disagree.
So apparently there's a condition called "Alexithymia", where you have feelings and emotions, but have difficulty expressing them. Sometimes you have difficulty identifying them.
I haven't been diagnosed, but it sounds an awful lot like me.
I think I might have this but when I’m nonverbal from being overstimulated I’m very good at expressing my feelings, just not verbally.
Phonophobia ( not really a disorder but still)( not to be confused with misophonia). Basically I hate loud noises that no one else seems to be bothered with. So I get to be the one covering their ears in a party or event waiting to go home. I start hyperventilating and crying sometimes and scratching myself since I get so stressed. I can't concentrate or do anything when there's loud noises going on. Basically imagine living with built in noise amplifiers.
OCD, its not just " Wanting things to be clean" all the time. Its more of a " Unless I do this, Something bad will happen to me or someone I love". Its doing something compulsiveley and obsessivley. And these compulsions get very frustrating at times, but you feel like you have to do them, or something bad will happen. There are also the intrusive thoughts, that can be very disturbing or scary.
Another one is emetephobia, which is the fear of throwing up. It makes it hard to eat, or go places, or hang out with people.
My friend has OCD, and the way she is forced to deal with the perfectionism traits she has, she panics and breaks down a lot. For example, she is picky with how her pancakes have syrup on them, will redo her makeup if something's wrong, and has to follow a set schedule or else she freaks out. She drives with a precise method because she can't do it any other way. OCD is painful for everyone. (We're teens)
*Bipolar II disorder (aka BPAD type 2)*. I'm really, really tired of explaining that it's NOT the same as Bipolar I (type 1).
Yes, us type 2's still have cycles of depression and mania, but those cycles (aka ups and downs) are a lot less severe. Our manic phase is also far less extreme, so much so that it's referred to as hypomania instead. In bipolar type 2, hypomania generally presents as hyperactivity (where we can get a sh*t ton done) or irritability and anxiety. Most of us don't go to the stereotypical extremes like spending 10k in a day or going Mommie Dearest. So it's really the difference in extremes that demo how we're different than folks with Bipolar type I.
So, please stop expecting that everyone who's bipolar is a nut job who sidelines as a serial killer. When we're medicated properly we're pretty normal, or at least what we're told is normal. As anyone with BPAD will tell you, we actually have no idea what normal is supposed to feel like because without meds, our brains don't really do the "healthy midline". Frankly I find what's considered "normal" pretty damn boring, but it sure beats the depression.
OP here... To be clear I'm NOT suggesting folks with type 1 are serial killers, but that people shouldn't assume anyone with BPAD is. Blame the fuggin media for that idea.
Gender Dysphoria.
PLEASE. STOP. TELLING. ME. TO. "JUST BE NORMAL". What is normal to you? Must I be cis for you? LET ME BE TRANS WITHOUT SAYING GENDER DYSPHORIA IS ME BEING SICK. STOP TELLING ME TO GET BETTER SOON.
Also depression, very misunderstood
And I quote "hey pandas, what mental health problem do you have that you wish you could raise more awareness about?" Key word mental health problem. Do you realize what you just did? You probably didn't, you said transgender people had a mental disorder.
Maladaptive and Immersive daydreaming. I’m not sure which one I have but the pacing and constant daydreams is real. It’s not like normal daydreams and I wish I could explain it without people thinking I’m insane.
Sensory issues. Touching, feeling, even hearing and tasting things can be awful sometimes. People who don't suffer from it don't understand it.
Yes yes yes I’ve never really seen anyone talk about it and it affects me so much
.. suicidal thoughts and such..
I guarantee you, no one with this kinda thing is gonna look to someone for help I can say from experience..... The only way to get past it is by yourself. No one can truly help. This needs better fixes. Most people don't recover.
I'm sorry you've had to deal with this by yourself. Your last statement is backwards. Statistically most people DO recover. Most people don't ultimately kill themselves (although may try), and speaking from personal experience most people who don't kill themselves don't feel suicidal forever. It does get better. I definitely agree with you that we need far better systems and support in place. Each person that dies is devastating, and it's impossible to understand from the depths of it just how much positive impact you staying alive has on the people around you.
Non physical abuse whatever the name is. Not verbal either. Kinda just punishing me for whatever I do and banning me from talking to all 9 of my friends including my so. Haven’t found a way to talk to them in 3 months.
Trichotillomania. It’s uncontrollable hair pulling. It can really affect your appearance along with your self esteem. It’s really hard trying to explain to people why I have no eyebrows and such. The sad thing is it’s actually really common but people are just too embarrassed to talk about it, I know l am
I have pure OCD.Basically it involves a lot of overthinking,fearing a situation, anxiety etc .Many a times it becomes very difficult to focus and feels like brain fog.It occurs in intervals of time like sometimes it is gone and then it is again there.
If it gets bad then there is a terrible headache, feeling of a pressure band over my head and brain fog 24/7 whose only solution is to sleep.
It is difficult to explain it to others becos there are no physical symptoms like repeated handwashing,fear of germs etc.If I listen to a song then it repeats in my head continuously without break.It sometimes because very different for me to concentrate during exams.I create situations in my head which are not true or think about something which someone said to me all the time.
Bipolar disorder. it effects a lot of people. some of them are not even aware of it.
OCD but in the 20 years since my diagnosis, I have learned how to channel it. Creating positive rituals and schedules. A few projects where I can let my OCD freak flag fly. Especially where lots of research is required. But man, change is hard. So hard. Just started a new job and have little control of things now and my brain is misfiring, left and right. Then the panic starts. Breathe…
Two things. One is that it might not be depression; it may be bipolar 2 ( there are 2 types). If antidepressants are taken by a person with bipolar 2 without any mood balancing meds then it will make the depressive periods worse. The 2nd thing is that bipolar 2 can be completely stabilised in some with the consistent use of medication. I can only speak for myself who suffered with long periods of serious depression interspersed with not sleeping and being busy in my head and physically for days at a time for nearly all my life until, as my mood swings got worse and more obvious, I was lucky enough to be referred to the best NHS psychiatrist. It took 2 years of triallng different balances of medication and I have now been symptom free for 4 years. The only sad thing is that I feel cheated that it took almost 50 years for a correct diagnosis.
I don’t remeber exactly what it is, but it was dislexia but for numbers. Also, synisisia.
Dyscalculia. and I have synesthesia as well also dysgraphia (dyslexia but for writing)
I used to struggle with anxiety until I realized it was largely lifestyle induced. Caffeine, excess sugar and lack of night time sleep and were the chief culprits. Snake oil salespeople will try to convince you otherwise, but the solution is usually quite simple (and affordable).
this depends on your own situation. I'm glad you were able to find a solution tho! <3
This is a media to raise awareness. Not attack on people. I appreciate people who open up with their problems and cannot understend those misunderstanding them. My sister committed suicide when I was 18 years old. It was traumatic. I feareded death and partings. When I faced a parting from a boyfriend my trauma repeated itself. I believed I was getting messages form TV and radio or even the books I read. It was later diagnoised as refference thought mainly because of my trauma. I have eversince been afraid to daydream. But I am going on well. I know if I get too stressed out I might start to get messages from the TV, not to mention the ET. So I stay away from stressfull situations. Simple realy.
I have a diagnosis of EUPD.
(On top of ADHD)
All came about later in my life (I’m nearly 40). After decades of impulsive behaviour, addiction, self harm, suicide attempts. People still misunderstand what it is.
DBT and AA have changed my life.
Formication. It’s a side effect of my entomophobia and arachnophobia and I often feel as if there are bugs or spiders crawling all over me (anytime anyone mentions it or I see them either irl or on tv/movies) and it takes so long to go away and I can’t stop it if I’m thinking about it (which hard, sensory issues and ocd) idk if it counts but it’s awful
ADHD. I was not diagnosed until I was way into my adult life. The diagnosis made it easier to understand why I think and function how I do, and I utilize its perks, like being able to do several things at once. What bothers me is that it explains so much that happened in my childhood, and that my life could have turned out so much better if I had gotten a diagnosis and treatment early on.
Ok, this is just for people who do this… joking about mental illness is NOT cool or funny. Joking about being “A little bit ocd” or saying things like “I want to kïll myself” over a math test is rude and not many acknowledge how hurtful that is to many. As someone with mental illness myself, I want this to be your wake up call: NOT COOL DUDE.(or dudett) Also, to anyone suffering from mental illness, you are beautiful and strong, keep fighting and just know that you are more than your mental illness.💙
Ok, this is just for people who do this… joking about mental illness is NOT cool or funny. Joking about being “A little bit ocd” or saying things like “I want to kïll myself” over a math test is rude and not many acknowledge how hurtful that is to many. As someone with mental illness myself, I want this to be your wake up call: NOT COOL DUDE.(or dudett) Also, to anyone suffering from mental illness, you are beautiful and strong, keep fighting and just know that you are more than your mental illness.💙
