How do u view your mental illness?

Question

Do u think that your mental illness is separate from who u are? 
My therapist was talking and kept addressing my anxiety as a separate thing from me. Saying to my mom “we have to crack down and not let the anxiety  take control in *blsh blah* situation” and I was wondering, How do u view ur mental illness? 
I personally can see both. Yes I’d be a way different person without my anxiety, but I’m not. I have anxiety and that is just adding (or taking away) from my personality. But it’s still me until it goes away.

Answer

I literally have a "personality disorder" and I've always struggled with this question.  I guess I think it's very much a part of me, but it isn't ALL of me and it doesn't necessarily define me.

Answer

I’m bipolar and honestly it’s a part of me. I feel like what lever I say or do is how I generally feel but it just comes out at bad times and switches when it wants. I don’t like the thought of it being something that’s controlling me or making me a certain way. I want to be my own person who happens to have it. If that makes sense

Answer

I developed depression and anxiety at 12 years old and I'm 20 now, it's often hard to see the thin line between myself and the mental illness. Sometimes I realise it's just my mind, but than that makes me feel that it's a part of me too, tbh I don't know who I would be without my depression so I think it is at least a part of myself now.

Answer

I want to say that it is very great that for people that may struggle, cope or just finding out they have a mental illness have this platform where u can connect or get insight from ur peers. I am who I am. Me being diagnosed Bipolar doesn't define me. Yes I have symptoms that I have to cope with but it doesn't define who I am.

Answer

I have bipolar 1. I am not bipolar 1. That's how I look at it.. I have an illness, I am not my illness. I control my illness my illness doesn't control me

Answer

I think it depends what kind of mental illness you have. For me I don't view it as being part of me at all, because I know that if I removed it I would be me still, or rather I could be me without having had this thing holding me back for years of my life at a time. But parts of my situation make the disorders worse, which I think is where it gets muddled as to whether I am separate or not. For example if I was living with different people I most certainly wouldn't be in the state I am now, which tells me a lot of it is based on circumstance, and yet at the same time that is part of my reaction to certain people. I don't get on with those people, my disorder just amplifies that. Without disorders I still wouldn't get on with them.
If being bed bound and having self destructive thoughts and behaviours, as well as wrecking future chances is 'me' then I sure don't want to be myself.

Answer

I've battled depression before I could even spell depression so it's a part of me. When I've tried to separate it from myself I've noticed it makes my bad days worse bc I'm trying to blame something external or make excuses based on my environment. Im also less active in my self care when I'm not mindful and intentionally doing something with the thought, "I do this today so I don't feel depressed tomor." This has all been through trial and error so what works for me may not work for you. A book that really helped me is called: How I Stayed Alive When My Brain Was Trying to Kill Me.

How do u view your mental illness?

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