Struggling With Acceptance?

Hello, everyone! I hope you are all having a good morning. Acceptance is something that has been on my mind lately. I've been in this community for about a week and am growing more comfortable in sharing. I find that I like sharing what is going on with me because someone out there may be able to relate- making both/all parties feel a little less alone in what we are going through. I think the hardest part for me is acceptance. Acceptance of all the hurts, diagnoses, and the new normal that life has become. I have my good days and my bad days, and I think I always will have some bad days- it's just the matter of accepting it and rolling with it until it passes. I have tried to fight it, but came out feeling even worse because I "lost the battle" and still had an episode. Some days I feel okay and at peace with what I am going through, and other days I feel so frustrated to the point it is hard to be still. I truly think once I gain more acceptance of all of the realms of the hurts, diagnoses, and the new normal, then I will gain more control over my life rather than it controlling me.

I feel alone in my thinking sometimes, but does it make sense what I am saying? Have you ever felt like you struggle with acceptance?

As always, thank you for listening and I hope you all have a positive day

37 Replies

oldest • newest

Strongest123

7 months ago

I do believe all of those who struggle with anxiety, depression, OCD, PTSD, bipolar issues have had issues with acceptance. And I do believe that the more people talk and admit to their diseases I think society as a whole would be more acceptable to mental diseases such as physical diseases. I do believe that the stigma behind admitting to having a mental disorder has put a dark cloud on treating people as human beings instead of these crazies that society thinks about as such. Don’t know if I’m making any sense hear. Lol I’m trying though. I don’t hide what I have at all anymore. And to be honest I think the fact that I’m more open about it has relieved the stress of hiding the disease. But I do think the mental health system in this country has a lot of catching up to do. I think that people with physical ailments are treated much much better than those with mental diseases. And I think that far too many Drs are quick to prescribe an antidepressant without really understanding the cause of the symptoms. But that’s a totally different subject. Samson

Jane_Doe2018

in reply to Strongest123

I told one family member about having bipolar disorder(recent), depression, and panic disorder, and they literally called me a "basket case". This family member was not alone in their thinking, as I come from a family where everything is hush-hush and not talked about. It felt extremely painful because I realized I could not get the support I needed from the source I thought would mean the most- my own family. It still hurts to think about at times, but I remember that I am not defined by a diagnosis or what others may think of me. I'm not a basket case, but rather, a human being that just so happens to live with mental illnesses. I am not defective, nor am I a danger to society- the image I feel others have sometimes. I tell myself that when I think about my family. I actually feel bad for those with misconceptions because they are missing out on so much due to their ignorance. I don't mean that in a rude way or anything, but rather in the most literal of ways- lack of knowledge/information.

It was definitely a turning point in my life, though, because it sparked me to seek professional help, and online support groups and communities. I will forever be grateful for you, and others, in this community. I am apart of HU and DBSA, both of which have been life-changing for me.

Jeff1943

You fought your anxiety and you came off feeling worse. Some fight their anxiety for years and wonder why nothing changes.

Why should this surprise us? Fighting involves stress, strain and tension. All the things that gave us anxiety, and the depression that comes out of anxiety, in the first place.

Most problems in life you fight. It's the default reaction and rightly so. The one exception is anxiety and panic disorder. Instead we have to stop all the fighting. We must surrender completely to our anxiety (for the moment). Agree to coexist with anxiety (for the moment).

Learn to live with anxiety and you'll be able to live without it.

When we truly accept anxiety we cease to fear it. What is there to fear? Anxiety is a nasty feeling but people have made business presentations whilst having a panic attack. You just carry on.

Learn to accept the symptoms of anxiety and you stop fearing it. Can't accept and fear it at the same time. Less fear means giving nerves time to heal.

I'm sure I've told you this before, Jane_Doe2018, sometimes it's good to hear it twice.

So remember: Learn to live with anxiety and you'll be able to live without it.

in reply to Jeff1943

Jeff, always such words of wisdom. I have been listening to Dr. Weekes for about three days now. I really enjoy her. I am finding that tasks that used to scare me are becoming less scary. You might end up needing to tell me multiple times, lol, because I need it. I have listened to the same piece several times and things just click and make so much sense when I listen to her. I actually applied it today at my appointment. I was waiting for my therapist and I felt like I was about to have a panic attack. I reminded myself that I wasn't in any danger, that it was going to pass in time. It kept my "second fear" at bay and I didn't have a full blown attack like I normally would have if it were two weeks ago. It's moments like those that I really understand what Dr. Weekes was talking about and it really works. Thank you for your post, Jeff, and I hope you have a great night