Mental Health: Societal Expectations & Breaking The Mold

Mental health illness and society's treatment towards it remains a rampant concern. Many people still lack a complete understanding of the severity of the most basic components of mental illness to include: depression & anxiety!

#Endthestigma will be a large part of what I discuss here. The treatment of those plagued by mental health concerns is super bleak & unsupported in the US & globally. It is bleak because of dismissive attitudes by the general public (read: uninformed or sheeple), the powers that be, & even our almighty medical community. The medical community might prescribe you what can be dangerous drugs. They also might insist you attend regularly re-traumatizing "therapy."

Has an attitude of acceptance emerged over the years? Why yes. But overwhelmingly, how those with mental health disorders are treated is disgraceful. I've fell prey to & also witnessed this many times.

If you can't keep up, you've got to have a detailed & usually discriminatory doctor's note.

• If you are employed at an "at will" company this can and may be used against you & chalked up to intentional absences from work.

When you're in the throes of clinical depression and unable to function normally, getting to your 9-5'er probably isn't gonna be safe for you or good for the company.

But the endless pressure is there and stems from societal expectations. Gotta keep up with the jones'. Gotta impress the boss, the family, etc, etc.

People pleasing might be the death of you. Emotional backlash from your "non compliance" will emerge in the form of meddlers trying to tell you how to live your life.

It is apparently "wrong" to know what is best for your life & live accordingly. If society is making you feel claustrophobic and trapped, it is your responsibility to rebut that & reclaim ownership of your life back.

It is okay to live within your physical & emotional means. There is a fine line between self limiting and also simply being kind to yourself and accepting your limitations. The only thing stopping you is you; don't let it be other people. When you suffer from mental health illness, you definitely shouldn't sacrifice your own health, happiness, and peace just to placate others.

That's why I say to hell with societal expectations. Break the mold. Do what works best for you. Don't let your mental illness confine or define you. Don't be ashamed of it. If someone had cancer, would you fault them for it?

Many times major life changes can and are in order for self progression and the obtaining of life peace when living with a mental disorder. You might face backlash for the changes & your personal choices but, if another person can't put themselves in your shoes or try to empathize, that's on them not you!

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