Please Don’t Feel Shame About Mental Health Challenges

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, more than 20% of US adults live with a mental illness. That means mental illness is common. 

Anything so common should be viewed compassionately by our society, and you should never feel shame if a mental health challenge impacts you or someone you love.

You Deserve Empathy

Everyone deserves compassion and empathy, and that includes you. Unfortunately, we are sometimes hard on ourselves. Rather than offering loving care to the person we see in the mirror, we may shame ourselves about a mental health challenge. Professionals working in mental health call that phenomenon self-stigma.

Here’s a good definition of self-stigma from the American Psychiatric Association:

• The negative attitudes, including internalized shame, that people with mental illness may have about their own condition.

If you face mental illness, please offer yourself respect, care and love. You are worthy.

Compassion and Empathy Improve Patients’ Outcomes

A recent piece in BMJ Open Quality, a British medical journal, highlighted the value of compassion, whether it’s from external or internal sources. The authors shared, “A meta-analysis of 21 randomised controlled trials found that compassion significantly lowers the symptoms of depression, anxiety and psychological distress while improving overall well-being.”

Clearly, treating yourself with loving care benefits your mental health.

Find the Compassion You Need

Sometimes, the ability to give ourselves the compassion we need becomes difficult to muster. We need support from others. In Greater Milwaukee, you can find that support and more from the expert mental health professionals at American Behavioral Clinics.

At seven area locations, we provide a broad variety of mental health services that offer you care, empathy and a happier tomorrow. Schedule your appointment now. We’re here for you.