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her.</p><p id="84fd">At first, coming to terms with it wasn’t as easy as it may seem from the outside. I didn’t want anyone to know that I was seeing a therapist. No one in my family, friends, or colleagues had an idea about it, except my partner, who has been a great support all this while. I didn’t want anyone to know because I didn’t want people to sympathize with me or pity me.</p><p id="fc48">But this is one of the many things therapy has helped me with. <b><i>‘Talking about my mental illness to people who care about me.’</i></b></p><figure id="3a5e"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/0*ECu_qQ70FbmNVTb-"><figcaption>Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@dbeltwrites?utm_source=medium&amp;utm_medium=referral">Dustin Belt</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com?utm_source=medium&amp;utm_medium=referral">Unsplash</a></figcaption></figure><p id="5f8c">I have been in therapy for five months now, but I openly talked to my sister about it for the first time yesterday. My family knew about it from the meds and stuff, but hearing myself say it out loud made me realize that I am doing better than I was a year ago.</p><h2 id="220f">Finding Strength in Vulnerability</h2><p id="e23d">Healing is not a linear process. It’s ongoing. You work hard to let go of a bad memory, but you may relapse now and then. You hurt people, and people hurt you. Talking about my mental illness has helped me accept that there is nothing wrong with me for not being mentally sane.</p><p id="8202">I know I haven’t completely healed yet. But like Olivia Rodrigo said <i>‘I am my father’s daughter, so maybe I could fix him’, </i>except that my version says ‘<i>I am my father’s daughter, yes I will fix me’.</i></p><p id="60f5"><i>Hi, I’m Saniya. I write about self-improvement, relationships, and lessons learned from my experiences. I'd love for you to follow <a href="https://medium.com/@saniyasaleem">me </a>and see my stories pop up on your feed. And, to have stories sent directly to you, <a href="https://saniyasaleem.medium.com/subscribe">subscribe to my newsletter.</a>👇</i></

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p><div id="84ad" class="link-block"> <a href="https://saniyasaleem.medium.com/subscribe"> <div> <div> <h2>Get an email whenever Saniya Saleem publishes.</h2> <div><h3>Get an email whenever Saniya Saleem publishes. By signing up, you will create a Medium account if you don't already…</h3></div> <div><p>saniyasaleem.medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*ixsiy7x7Xa7ESd0b)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="deda">I am a freelance writer specializing in Copywriting, Content Writing, and SEO Writing. I optimize for SEO and write compelling, research—backed stories. Hire me at [email protected].</p><p id="c144"><i>If you liked this piece, you might like the following too:</i></p><div id="af12" class="link-block"> <a href="https://saniyasaleem.medium.com/dated-21-02-2024-cc14d021516c"> <div> <div> <h2>Dated: 21/02/2024</h2> <div><h3>journal entry without a title</h3></div> <div><p>saniyasaleem.medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*IwuoANsFYbrLFFbOYxAwnw.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><div id="4bf0" class="link-block"> <a href="https://saniyasaleem.medium.com/12-lessons-from-12-months-of-2023-b52610c669a4"> <div> <div> <h2>12 Lessons from 12 Months of 2023</h2> <div><h3>#LessonLearned</h3></div> <div><p>saniyasaleem.medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*MKacEHk43zyImmBl)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div></article></body>

How Talking About Your Mental Illness Makes Dealing With It Easier

Because #YouMatter

Photo by Susan Wilkinson on Unsplash

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Ever since I grew up, I had a weird relationship with my mind. The decisions I took and the conversations I had with myself were always so messy that nothing ever made sense to me at the moment.

I always knew that I was not perfectly sane in my head, but I never dared to confront my thoughts.

But, when my relationship went through a rough patch last October, I decided to accept that something could be wrong with myself. Not to deny the fact that all of it stemmed from my childhood trauma (thanks, Dad), but anyway, I decided that I am 23 years old, and I cannot keep blaming my parents for my poor decisions.

Photo by Marcel Strauß on Unsplash

That is when I booked my first appointment with my therapist and took the first step towards breaking the pattern.

After the first few sessions, I was diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), which is basically the fear of abandonment, self-destructive behavior, negative self-image, anger, paranoia, fear of rejection, and fear of loneliness bundled together.

At first, coming to terms with it wasn’t as easy as it may seem from the outside. I didn’t want anyone to know that I was seeing a therapist. No one in my family, friends, or colleagues had an idea about it, except my partner, who has been a great support all this while. I didn’t want anyone to know because I didn’t want people to sympathize with me or pity me.

But this is one of the many things therapy has helped me with. ‘Talking about my mental illness to people who care about me.’

Photo by Dustin Belt on Unsplash

I have been in therapy for five months now, but I openly talked to my sister about it for the first time yesterday. My family knew about it from the meds and stuff, but hearing myself say it out loud made me realize that I am doing better than I was a year ago.

Finding Strength in Vulnerability

Healing is not a linear process. It’s ongoing. You work hard to let go of a bad memory, but you may relapse now and then. You hurt people, and people hurt you. Talking about my mental illness has helped me accept that there is nothing wrong with me for not being mentally sane.

I know I haven’t completely healed yet. But like Olivia Rodrigo said ‘I am my father’s daughter, so maybe I could fix him’, except that my version says ‘I am my father’s daughter, yes I will fix me’.

Hi, I’m Saniya. I write about self-improvement, relationships, and lessons learned from my experiences. I'd love for you to follow me and see my stories pop up on your feed. And, to have stories sent directly to you, subscribe to my newsletter.👇

I am a freelance writer specializing in Copywriting, Content Writing, and SEO Writing. I optimize for SEO and write compelling, research—backed stories. Hire me at [email protected].

If you liked this piece, you might like the following too:

Mental Health
Mental Illness
Mental Health Awareness
Trauma
Healing
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