Family won’t accept I have anxiety

[Sugarplum1811]

Being from an asian background and being brought up with stigmas around mental health issues, it’s been hard to tell my parents how I’ve been feeling for the past 6 months.

I keep telling my mum I have an mental health issue and an anxiety problem but she refuses to believe that I’m suffering. I don’t think she sees mental health as a spectrum but rather in black and white. That’s whether you’re crazy and need to go to an asylum or you’re a normal functioning human.

She thinks I just have elevated “stress” and that’s why I’m behaving/feeling this way. I don’t know how to explain to her that anxiety and mental health is so much more than just what she thinks it is.

I feel sad that she doesn’t necessarily understand what mental health is and importantly that I’m suffering from it. I try to tell her how I feel and instead she gets angry and says I’m being stupid, silly and I just need to wake up and get rid of these thoughts.

I love her so much and I know she is trying to look out for me like any mother would do for their child. She has just been misinformed by the people she grew up around and I want to open her eyes.

Has anyone been in a similar situation? How do I make her understand how I’m feeling and that mental health is so important? Thank you.

[designer8]

I don’t think you can make others understand, if they don’t want to even try. Only my husband gets it (he suffers absolutely no anxiety issues whatsoever) and yet my family (who all show signs of anxiety) couldn’t care less, really. I’ve been off work one year now and not one of them have asked why or how I’m going - and we all get on and talk all the time!

Just find one or two people / friends who care and talk with them.

[Mindfulnessxo]

My husband is filipino at first he didn’t understand my mental health and even told me his parents don’t believe in such thing. I thought that was BS coming from his mouth but reading this Made me feel some type of way. I’m sorry your going through this

[hypercat54]

Hi unfortunately you can't make someone understand who refuses to so why waste your time explaining to them? Maybe she doesn't want her eyes opened?

My advice is to only discuss it with those who are more understanding and stop trying to get blood out of a stone. There is no point in upsetting yourself further after all. x

[Jason1234567]

Same with me too, coming from an Asian background no one gets it.