There are three simple things you can do to support your mental health and wellness, no matter what diagnosis you have.
The first is to STOP.
Stop running in circles – stop torturing yourself, and others and stop telling yourself that you can ignore it and ‘it’ will go away.
The second is to accept.
Denial in all forms is one of the hardest reactions to get past. We’re raised in a society that believes ‘normal’ is the most valuable commodity in describing and categorising people. Whilst being ‘normal’ is no more than a state of mind, being a depressive, or a bipolar, or having ADHD, or any of a myriad of other medical diagnoses doesn’t mean you’re not ‘normal’. After all, its normal for you. Getting your head around that concept is one of the best ways to start adjusting to and understanding how your world relates to you, and your disorder. Which, in turn, gives you a way to adjust to and intergrate your diagnosis into your life.
And the third and final step is to live.
There is no physical way to change what you are at diagnosis. You may get better – and you can control anything that you’re diagnoised with by taking prescribed medical action, be that medication, counsellings and beyond. Many people give in when diagnosed. They say they’re fighting, they say they’re losing the battle. But most people forget simply to live, thrive, and survive their disease. There is no reason not to live on, after diagnosis – and no reason to give in.
D Kai Wilson is a mental health writer with personal experience of depression and bipolar disorder. Diagnosed over 10 years ago, she’s spent the past five helping to educate, support and aid others in understanding bipolar disorder.
Her first non fiction book, Pictures in the Dark is available on pre-order now.
).
