Extreme eating disordered behavior includes excessive calorie counting, secret food binges, strict diets, and vomiting after meals. Seeing someone you love and care about suffer from this health problem is difficult, especially when there seems to be an obvious remedy. However, eating disorders are far more complicated than bad eating patterns. They are fundamentally unsuccessful attempts to cope with emotional problems that involve skewed, negative perspectives on eating habits, weight, and body image. These unpleasant emotions and beliefs fuel these harmful habits.

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Eating disorders are caused by the use of food as a coping mechanism for unpleasant or painful feelings. That is because limiting one’s diet helps one feel in charge. Overindulging momentarily calms feelings of anxiety, stress, rage, or depression. It is a strategy for overcoming hopelessness and self-loathing, as described by most people with mental illness. Those who suffer from disordered eating eventually lose the ability to view themselves clearly, and their preoccupation with food and weight stigma starts to take over all other aspects of their lives. Finding healthy coping mechanisms for frustration or emotional distress and determining the underlying causes of the eating disorder they are experiencing are the first steps on their journey toward wellness and recovery.

Persons of various ages, genders, races, body size, and weights can develop eating problems. Different kinds of eating disorders have different mental, physical, and emotional symptoms. Treatment options may include medication, mental health counseling, and cognitive therapies. But note that you may support and promote the importance of therapy for someone who is struggling with an eating disorder, but you cannot make them change. And that can significantly impact how quickly your loved one or the person you know recovers.

Warning Signs Of An Eating Disorder

Many individuals are concerned about their physical appearance, diet, and positive body image. This is particularly true for young adults and teenagers, who are under additional pressure to look good and fit in during a period when their physical attributes are developing. Because of this, it can be difficult to distinguish eating disorders from other types of normal self-consciousness problems, weight issues, or diets. Individuals who suffer from eating disorders frequently go to considerable measures to conceal what’s going on, which further complicates challenges. You can look out for some warning indications, though. Furthermore, warning signs for eating disorders become more obvious as they worsen. Here are some of the things to look out for.

Restricting Food Or Dieting

Creating excuses to dodge meals or food-related circumstances (such as saying they’re not hungry, had a large meal earlier, or have a cranky stomach) is one example of this practice. Some people compulsively monitor their calorie intake, read food labels, measure amounts, and eat only small amounts of particular low-calorie foods. They also frequently avoid entire groups of foods, such as carbohydrates and dietary fat. They also try consuming prescription stimulants or illegal substances like amphetamines or diet pills, along with creating restricted eating habits such as chewing or chopping excessively, eating in specific orders, or rearrangement of food on a plate.

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Bingeing

This is an event where individuals with eating disorders store significant amounts of food in relatively brief periods and hoard and conceal stashes of high-calorie snacks like junk food and sweets. In addition, they frequently have a lot of empty food packets and wrappers, which often get tucked at the bottom of the garbage or even under their bed or closet. In some cases, they may eat normally among other people but then binge late in the evening or in a quiet place where they won’t be seen or disturbed.

Having Distorted Body Image And Altered Appearance

What generally concerns these people with eating disorders are frequent remarks about feeling overweight or being called fat. They have this fear of about that they may acquire weight. Thus, in common scenarios, they frequently wear baggy or several layers of clothing to conceal their weight and occasionally struggle with significant weight loss, quick weight gain, or fluctuating weight.

Purging

This is a situation where individuals with eating disorders conduct lengthy periods of fasting or obsessive, intensive exercise, particularly right after eating their meal. This can occasionally involve behaviors such as disappearing immediately after eating, constantly using laxatives, diuretics, or enemas, or making numerous trips to the restroom. Individuals will sometimes overdo their mouthwash and take excessive amounts of breath mints or perfume to cover up the stench of puke.

Types Of Eating Disorders

Anorexia

People with anorexia starve themselves because they have a severe fear of gaining additional weight. They never think they’re skinny enough, even though they’re literally underweight or even malnourished. Aside from caloric restriction, people with anorexia nervosa may use diet medications, go on an extreme or excessive exercise routine, or purge to maintain their ideal weight.

Bulimia

Bingeing and purging are vicious cycles associated with Bulimia. People living with Bulimia go to great lengths to rid themselves of the excess calories after an uncontrollable binge eating session. They fast, throw up, exercise excessively, or use laxatives to prevent gaining weight. Usually this practice often results in severe malnutrition and mineral deficiencies.

Binge Eating Disorder

Individuals who suffer from binge eating disorder tend to overindulge in food, quickly ingesting thousands of calories in just a short period of time. They cannot regulate their behavior or quit eating even when feeling uncomfortably full. They often don’t want to stop munching food despite angry emotions of remorse and shame over these covert binges.

How To Communicate Effectively With A Person With An Eating Disorder?

Keep Trying To Include Them

Even though people with eating disorders might not want to go out or participate in events, you should nonetheless approach them and invite them along. They will appreciate being invited, even if they choose not to attend. It will give them a sense of personal worth. Don’t even consider the possibility that they don’t want to be around others and avoid friends and families or close relationships because they don’t socialize as much as you believe they should. They never prioritize isolating themselves, so you should never think they will immediately cut you off. Please pay attention to their behavior and emotions. Don’t let it control you.

Try To Build Up Their Self-Esteem

Telling someone who suffers from an eating disorder how wonderful they are, how much you value their presence in your life, and that you’re delighted to be around them could be one of the ways you could support them. You must express your willingness to encourage them in any circumstance and your preference for highlighting their positive traits over their self-defeating beliefs. You need to inform them that their eating condition is unrelated to their personality, believe their physical state has no bearing on who they are, and that their inner traits are more valuable than their health.

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Give Your Time, Have A Listening Ear, And Try Not To Give Advice Or Criticize

This might be difficult if you disagree with their self-perception, self compassion, and food choices. Remember that you don’t need to hold every solution. The key thing is to make sure that people with eating disorders know you support them even if when you feel that your supportive friend or relative declines your friendship, assistance, and advice. Honestly, because the person managing the mental health problem would probably block you out, you will feel a lot of stress and anxiety. Sometimes, they may even deliberately hurt you to convince you to abandon them. Because of this, it’s critical that you maintain your composure and resist their attempts to make you feel bad for supporting them.

Talk To Them, But Never Tell Them What They Should Do

A person with an eating disorder is often sensitive to comments and suggestions regarding their looks, the food they eat, and how they handle themselves. Sometimes, they take it personally and would retaliate without understanding their situation. Since they are not typically mentally and emotionally stable, they would only see your advice as entirely against their ideals, and often they would not feel safe. With that, you must be careful with what you say because offending them is the last thing you should do. That is because instead of helping them, you might push them to their limits. Understandably, there are times that you might unintentionally say something that would make them feel off. But if you can, try avoiding telling them what to do because these mentally unstable individuals already know the condition they are in, and they don’t need you to constantly remind them that they are dealing with a psychological problem.

Don’t Use Your Experience As An Example

One misconception about trying to help a family member or someone with an eating disorder is when you talk to them; you use your own awareness and experience to make them realize that their situation or condition is not much of a concern. Genuinely, your experiences differ from theirs, and the battle they are facing will not put yours above theirs. Yes, communicating or talking to them and sharing your experience about your issues may be a way for you to relate. But when you do that, you only make them feel like their problems are nothing but a portion of your non-existent sufferings. It would be best to let them feel comfortable sharing their struggles and thoughts instead of grabbing the attention of yourself.

Final Thoughts

A person’s physical and mental health may be negatively impacted by eating disorders, which are a severe issue. Do not hesitate to assist if you believe you may know someone who suffers from an eating disorder. A person’s physical health can be negatively impacted and potentially lead to challenging life-threatening issues after years of dealing with an ignored eating disorder. Start by conversing with the person and getting guidance from a qualified healthcare specialist to safeguard their well-being.

Perhaps you don’t think about seeking counseling or family therapy. Maybe you still think you are capable of handling things on your way, even with everything going on around you and all the worry and anxiety that’s lingering. That’s alright. You never know how or when life’s obstacles may influence you, so it’s normal to be optimistic and focused at all times. Many other people share your thoughts, so you are not alone. Why fix what isn’t broken when everything appears to be working fine?

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Do I Need Mental Health Counseling?

Spending both resources and time may not seem necessary when there doesn’t seem to be an urgent problem. As a result, you won’t necessarily need to consult a professional mental health specialist because you think you can handle everything. However, you might be wrong about it. There are still a lot of good things that you can get from counseling, and here are some of the reasons for that.

Understanding Where Your Emotions At

You may feel confident about your intense feelings or emotions, and you can stay attentive to your thoughts. It is a good sign of cognitive health. However, despite your ability to manage your emotions and seem to handle well being well, there are still instances when your sentiments need to be aligned with your current needs.

Yes, you may not see it, but there are a lot of instances that you tend to ignore what you are feeling, only to convince yourself that you are strong enough to handle life’s challenges. Though this may seem a positive approach, over time, it will eventually make you insensitive to your mental illness and emotional needs and would result in distant behavior toward potential emotional intelligence and personal growth.

Mental Stress Prevention

Maintaining your overall mental and emotional health is strictly important. You might think you don’t need counseling services because of your positive attitude towards life challenges, but that can change once you find yourself stuck in a lot of stressful situations. Remember, stress is inevitable and there is nothing you can do to instantly stop certain things from happening.

Once you fall into the mental stress trap, you will not be able to easily cope, as this stress can immediately turn into a psychological issue or serious mental health condition, including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. In some instances, stress can bring you different chronic illnesses, including insomnia, high blood pressure, headaches, chronic pain, heart diseases, digestive problems, and many more. Thankfully, counseling can be a preventative measure against these future challenges of mental illnesses. 

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Ditching Bad Habits

Of course, it is common to have particular habits that are hard to break. Some of these include quitting smoking or drinking, maintaining a healthy and well-balanced diet, wanting to carry out an improved fraction of control in food in order to lose weight, getting enough sleep at night, or finally sticking to a gym schedule. Some of the worst habits are unnoticeable as you may believe them to be a part of your normal routine.

You may argue that your negative practices won’t harm you since you are used to it. But eventually, these things can take a toll on your overall mental, physical, and emotional health. Thus, you might want to consider counseling to help you get to the root of your bad habit resistance and potentially change it for the betterment of your overall wellness.

Breaking Old Relationship Patterns

It is ideal to fall into the belief that a relationship that is struggling too much is normal. A lot of people think that it is part of the process that strengthens the relationship. That explains why most couples tend to ignore warning signs and red flags among their partners because that’s how they think an individual should handle the commitment.

Suppose you are one of those people who is stuck in a loop or a cycle where one or both individuals in the relationship are suffering mentally and emotionally. In that case, that is the time you should seek counseling for mental health condition problems. The professional treatment will allow you to understand the difference between a healthy relationship and a toxic one and eventually assist you in making better judgments and more healthy relationship goals.

Dealing With Life Transitions

You may act tough in front of the mirror and can show a brave face in front of others. But in reality, you know you can be scared and uncomfortable with the changes in your life. These can include adjusting to adulthood and having tons of responsibilities, starting a new career and deciding where to get financial stability, or getting married and having a family. You may think that you don’t need any family members’ help because you are certain where life leads you.

But the truth is, you are having problems with life transitions. Yes, this is a process that no one is prepared for. There are things that can happen that are out of your control, and you might end up creating a mess or promoting more problems than creating solutions. Thus, counseling is a great option for you to understand the importance of necessary adjustments that you may need to work on to have a peaceful and fulfilling existence. 

Trying Something New And Different

If you are not used to telling other people about how you currently feel, or you find sharing your thoughts and experiences a sign of weakness, then counseling is the best choice for you. Yes, it is okay to stick with the things you are comfortable with, and if asking a stranger is not one of your best suits, that is okay.

But if you can change that pattern and try something new, you might as well seek and consult a mental health provider to better understand and recognize your needs for a change. It won’t hurt you to finally speak up about what you are going through, and the best part of counseling is that you will know how easy it is to express yourself through different behavioral approaches.

Fighting A Long Time Battle

It is very stressful to deal with a part traumatic experience, and sometimes, even if you think you are brave or strong enough to handle things on your own, you will still end up needing someone by your side. But how can you manage to do that when not everyone in your circle understands what you are going through? Genuinely, your traumatic experience is yours alone, and you can’t force people to constantly consider your feelings just because you are suffering from a great inner pain. Thus, it would help if you had counseling to help you fight the long-term battles you are facing. The process can potentially change your outlook on life. It can make you realize that despite the negative things that happened in the past, you can always live happily in the future, provided you surround yourself with amazing people to support you all the way.

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Personal Development

Counseling does not only aid mental and emotional issues. It can also help you in becoming a better version of yourself. The process of counseling is straightforward, and therapy can help you in both personal and professional development. There are tons of ways counseling can change your life. Some of the methods mental health professionals use to focus on boosting your self-confidence and self-awareness by providing enough reasons to picture yourself in a positive light.

Counseling can teach you to better manage your time, encourage you to make good life decisions and improve your overall judgments towards yourself and other individuals. It can make you realize how deserving you are of the life you have by removing negative thoughts and changing disruptive behavioral patterns.

Investing In Yourself

You are worthy of greater health, a happier life, and tranquility. Support and self-investment are things you deserve. It doesn’t make you less deserving of assistance just because you aren’t experiencing a crisis. It’s not a race, and you don’t have to place highly on the bell curve to receive the support you require when dealing with discomfort. Seeking therapy (talk therapy, couples therapy, group therapy) is also a way to get rid of your anxiety disorders and emotional distress.

It would be best if you considered your personal development. Do not hold onto the notion that everything is fixed in one spot and will never alter. You have little control over the circumstance, and you might regret not getting expert assistance when the moment comes that you are unable to manage your emotional and mental health concerns. It’s vital to always aim high, especially for your mental stability, so always consider investing in yourself. See a therapist and improve your communication skills.

Final Thoughts

You should seek counseling for self-improvement and self-discovery, even in the absence of a specific difficulty in your life. Examine your emotions and ideals, as well as think back on your prior experiences. By doing this, you may feel more confident in yourself as well as more fulfilled and content.

Counseling or a therapy session can be quite beneficial, even if you don’t think you need it. It would assist you on your path to better mental and overall wellness, even if you often sometimes need to listen to the clinical social workers when they prescribe medication. Some professional therapists and counselors are more than willing to assist with your personal development, treatment, understanding your past, ending unhealthy and abusive relationships, getting rid of relationship troubles, kicking out destructive behaviors, establishing an entirely new routine, and helping you try something different. Don’t ask why therapy helps with psychiatric conditions, you must seek one to understand the process yourself. 

FAQs

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Once or twice in our life, we experienced heartache on different levels. Perhaps that is due to our failed relationships that we thought would last. Or maybe due to the promises that we hold onto despite obviously knowing they can be broken. Or perhaps we experienced losing someone most unexpectedly. Whatever the reasons are, we know that not a single soul can understand our pain and suffering. And with those emotions, we know that our lives would never be the same.

Heartache, accompanied by grief, is a complicated thing. Some of us can better handle the roller coaster of emotions, while some would rather choose to end it all. Some can find ways to go back to their old lives, while others get stuck in a mentally and emotionally crippling situation. But despite some negative life impacts of a broken heart, we should always remember to continue and live life as is. We have to support ourselves through the healing process so we can protect our overall well-being. Here is some of the guide to healing a broken heart according to a therapist.

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Stop Pretending 

The earlier we realize that we are grieving, the less complicated things for us will be. An issue with a broken heart is that sometimes, we try to make people believe that we are okay due to our overly self-confident selves. We make others think that we can easily make it because we strongly hold onto the idea of “a strong self” despite hurting inside. We cry in silence because we want to convince ourselves that moving on is an easy process. We lie to people all the time. And those lies we tell them to become our reality, making us unable to see and solve the problem.

Permission To Grieve 

The process of healing or recovery should start from acknowledging the underlying emotions that we are dealing with. We should let ourselves feel all the kinds of pain that are associated with grief. We need to permit ourselves to grieve to understand the impacts of anger, sadness, loneliness, or guilt. We have to know what’s going on physically, emotionally, and mentally within ourselves to develop a coping strategy that would fit our needs. Note that it does not have to be urgent. As long as we learn to accept the situation and learn our lessons from the unfortunate event, slowly, we will make it.

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Let People Know

One significant part of healing a broken heart is expression. Thus, we need to let it all out. We mustn’t keep our emotions to ourselves as it may cause too much weight in the mental and emotional aspects. It would be best if we could find someone who we can trust to vent out our emotions. Of course, it may sound easy, but it can be complicated too when we are full of fear from rejection and judgment. But that is how the healing process works. We have to acknowledge the fact that not all people would listen to our stories. But the good part is, we will be able to manage the emotions we are struggling with.

Focus On Self-Care

Whether we like it or not, we would end up struggling to get back on our feet if we won’t focus on self-care. Thus, we need to remind ourselves that there is nothing more reassuring than taking care of ourselves. Yes, we need to embrace the difficulty of the situation. However, it is not enough reason to neglect ourselves with proper self-care just because we are broken-hearted. As much as possible, we have to rely on ourselves when it comes to full recovery because no other individual knows what we are capable of doing more than us.

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Find Happiness In Other Things

Finding happiness in other things after heartbreak can be a tough option to consider. It is natural for us to crawl up in bed and cry over spilled milk for the most part. Admittedly, we would choose to isolate ourselves and become a different person because it validates our heartache. Unfortunately, that’s one of the worse parts of grieving. Instead of diving into the pit of misery, why not choose to look for other things that we can be thankful for? Why not give ourselves a chance to do things differently? We can learn new activities, change our environment, focus on our abilities, and so on.

Final Thoughts

Yes, mending a broken heart is different from one person to another. There are times that one can recover from the pain regardless of the time spend on the process. But there are also those people who are mentally and emotionally incapable of dealing with heartache. In some unfortunate cases, their sufferings lead to psychological health problems, self-harm, and suicide.

We can agree that it is not hard to understand the fear of being alone. Just imagine going home to an empty apartment after work, getting a sense of exclusions during the holidays, not having people to celebrate life with, etc. We know the agony of being on our own all the time. As much as we want to make things different, we already adapt to the surrounding unhappiness, making it even sadder to think about it.

The fear of being alone is responsible for our emotional imbalance and throttling psychological development. It is somehow the worst contributing factor to our misery in life and the cause of some of our most unfortunate decisions. That fear creates a misapprehension that hinders us from saving ourselves as it ruins some of the substantial portions of our lives. Sometimes, we unexpectedly cater to our convenience even though we know those things can automatically cause us overall damage. Thus, we need to raise awareness on a proper understanding of the fear of being alone.

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It Makes Us Lie And Manipulate People

Sadly, when we are scared to be left alone, we make a forbidden mistake. Sometimes we lie, and sometimes we create manipulating scenarios so that people could end up staying by our side regardless of their will. Our fear makes us do things that take other people’s options to decide and live for themselves. We become so unreasonable and sometimes possessive that we do not allow these people to grow emotionally and mentally. We get too afraid of sadness and loneliness that we obliged them to stick with us no matter what. We deprive these individuals of having a realistic chance of choosing things they deserve.

It Makes Us Try Harder For People To Like Us

The fear of being alone always goes with the fear of being left out. That is why we often try our best to make the people stick with us. But along with the process is our inappropriate understanding of how to manage the issue socially. Thus we end up changing ourselves for the benefit of others. We become individuals that are too ordinary or fake to get people’s attention. We need to be noticeable enough so that others could find enough reason to associate with us. We tend to make ourselves relevant because we are afraid that if people don’t see something worthy in us, we become more deserving of being alone.

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It Makes Us Create Wrongs Decisions

Being alone is sometimes a must. It allows us to grow independently. It makes us realize the value of surviving during the worse times. However, the fear associated with being alone is a powerful force that often convinces us to create wrong decisions in life. Even if we intend not to, we usually make mistakes and validate our actions, thinking we did it because no one is there to guide us. We blame others for not telling us what is right from wrong, despite our own knowledge of what we are supposed to do.

It Makes Us Succumb To A Denial Phase

Often, we recognize that there is a need to be alone. Regardless of the fear we have for it, we know that we have to work things independently. Unfortunately, that mentality often gets too far that we begin to succumb to a denial phase. Yes, the emotional damages can be bearable but only for an extended period. After quite a few whiles, it will imply mind-shattering despair of our wrong interpretation of words, actions, and behaviors only to avoid compromising. We get stuck in a denial phase where we force ourselves to believe that we are okay even if we are not.

It Makes Us Vulnerable And Weak

When terrified of loneliness, we often do not have enough strength to argue about what we want. We let go of things just like that, and we do not care to fight for our needs. It is as if we’re trying to embrace the unfortunate life of loneliness and sadness and only hope for others to give mercy. At the time, we feel we had enough, but in reality, we continue to endure the pain and misery of being alone. We get so weak that we do not take the initiative to change our surroundings because we fear it will only complicate the situation. We do not want to risk our overall health to experience a devastating result of rejection.

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Takeaway

We all have fears that we continue struggling with. Unfortunately, the fear of being alone is not something we can openly tell others. That is because, as much as possible, we don’t want people to see us as someone clingy, dependent, manipulative, and socially awkward. It would be better if we find time to understand how the fear of being alone negatively affects our lives before it becomes too late.

Counseling can be a great alternative treatment for emotional health problems that affect mental health. It provides the best results in aligning thoughts and feelings. It finds ways to encourage and empower people to use their potential to build strong and functional well-being. It promotes self-reliance and self-awareness. However, counseling is not perfect. Some particular reasons make it ineffective.

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Lacks Clear Purpose On The Process

Counseling is often certain about its goal, and that is to help people reach their maximum potential in keeping emotional and mental health intact. However, for some reason, it becomes ineffective because it lacks a clear purpose. Some counseling strategies only focus on the bigger goal without considering the small ones that need dire attention. The process fails to establish rules, structure, and objectives at the outset. As a result, too many of the things that require immediate attention stay unresolved.

Insufficient Skills And Knowledge

Counseling experts are knowledgeable in addressing patients’ mental and emotional issues. However, not all of them are skilled when it comes to handling real-time stressful situations. Some counselors are more focused on the paperwork that they do not want to engage in a deep relationship with their clients’ issues. It becomes a cause of ineffective counseling because of the inconsistency and inconvenience that could take place.

No Comprehensible Communication

Counseling is all about communicating the reason for treatment. But when the individual and the counselor fail to establish a working relationship, the process of counseling fails even before it begins. Counseling needs tons of information regarding past and present experiences to process qualifying assistance to save emotional health. However, suppose clients fail to provide the needed information or somehow want to hide something. In that case, they will eventually have a communication gap, making the therapy unable to resolve.

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Lacks Sensitivity To Emotional Issues

Sometimes, counseling fails not because people don’t want to recover but because some counselors lack sensitivity to emotional issues. Unfortunately, experts, despite knowing what to do, do not always build a relationship with clients. It is as if they try and put out a barrier because they do not want to feel the mental and emotional burden the patients deal with. There is a lack of sensitivity to diversity that results in less adaptive emotional responses. There is a lack of acknowledgment of the unique reasons to go for counseling of patients in a therapeutic setting.

Not Enough Understanding Of Private Concerns

Usually, counseling becomes stressful when counselors are pushy. Unfortunately, some counselors feel entitled to know everything, which causes clients to feel a little bit irritated and distant from them. While some experts manage the issue, some use it against their patients. Thus, it creates a failure in dealing with clients’ challenging behaviors and personalities. Counseling fails when counselors fail to recognize the struggle of expressing private concerns. With that, the whole process slips upon the negative involvement of emotions in counseling-related decisions and objectives.

Lack Of Surrounding Motivational Support

A good counselor attends fully to what the client is saying, and they speak and engage in active listening. But despite the counselor being excellent in helping people with emotional issues, counseling still becomes ineffective due to a lack of motivational support from different sources. Counselors may do their best in explaining certain information useful in the process of recovery. However, when the patients lack motivational support, they might succumb to the overall damage caused by their unstable mental and emotional health. People must recognize the need to surround themselves with supportive loved ones for the sake of their different developmental recovery.

Failure To Understand The Process Of Counseling

Counseling is effective when both the counselor and the patient understand the process. However, when one or both of them find it difficult to adjust, adhere to, and follow specific guidelines, it becomes a dead end. It would be impossible to assist a situation when one or both persons involved in the process are not taking it seriously. And even if the recovery model tends to be extremely effective, it will become useless when both fail to establish rapport. When there is a lack of understanding of the purpose of counseling, negative results occur. It includes having intense emotional issues and mental dysfunction.

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Final Thoughts

Counseling helps a lot in dealing with emotional and mental illnesses. But each people’s experience is different. If there is a disappointing thing that you encountered, please don’t give up in the process. There are still many amazing counseling techniques out there that are more appropriate for people’s needs. Some involve a real positive outcome that supports individuals who have experienced stress, trauma, and mental illness. Please do not let one bad experience ruin the overall impression of counseling’s potential benefits.

It often bugs me when people talk about mental illness differently. Most of the people I know genuinely do not understand what mental illness is all about and how it affects millions of others’ lives. Some of them say that feeling sad are the ultimate indication. But what about those people who act normal every day despite the mental challenges? What about those individuals who can laugh around with friends but are crying inside? What about those people who find themselves capable of doing things despite struggling to maintain their overall wellness?

There are so many factors that can affect mental illness. But people should consider that not all of the signs are reliable. Thus, there is a need to pay close attention to what is going on with people dealing with mental health issues. It is vital to note that mental illness is not:

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A Trend 

I find it funny that some people can easily say that “I am so depressed” when in fact, the reason why they feel down is that they didn’t get to avail themselves a front seat ticket to a movie. Some would feel exaggerated over not getting a luxurious bag as a birthday present. And others often feel the need to say they are depressed even without a proper diagnosable sign.

Mental illness is not a trend. And not because many people feel sad for some reason; it does not mean everyone can be depressed altogether. Depression ruins lives. Thus, making it a trend will only make it difficult for others to identify their situation and avoid seeking help.

An Excuse

It seems quite getting handy when people use mental health conditions as an excuse for their bad behavior. Perhaps that is because humans are empathic. There is this mentality that when someone has done bad things but says they only did it because they are mentally incapable, they get an unlimited hall pass.

But mental illness is not an excuse, especially even for the bad behavior people are doing. There are always consequences in every action. And hurting others’ emotional, mental, and physical health so that one could validate his own mental health struggle is not acceptable. It is not okay to use mental illness to commit a crime and hurt other people intentionally.

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A Choice

In some severe cases of mental illness, the true reasons to go for counseling is to understand the inability to recover lies within the surrounding stupid people. That is because these individuals often think that mental illness is non-existent. They assume that one can easily get rid of it as if it was the person’s choice to experience its damaging effects.

It is hard to break it to some assuming people, but mental illness is never a choice. Mental illness occurs because of factors that affect it, such as genetics, environmental issues, upbringing, abuse and neglect, emotional disturbance, stress, and trauma.

A Reason For Attention

One of the most epic fails of using mental illness to get attention is getting treatment for it despite not needing one. People who use mental illness only to get the attention they need would never understand how hard it is to get through a day dealing with debilitating symptoms. It is disrespectful to those who are actually trying their best to win their psychological battle.

Mental illness is not a reason for attention. A person who constantly uses it for their personal desire greatly contributes to the difficulty of treating it. For some, the intention of using a “sick role” might fire back and eventually create a realm of illness for themselves.

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Always Visible

As mentioned above, many people think that sadness and hopelessness are the main indicators of mental illness. Unfortunately, that is only a portion of what mental illness is. There is too much to consider because mental illness comes in different forms. Thus, not because someone is emotionally sad and hopeless doesn’t mean they are mentally ill.

Mental illness is not always visible because there are people who can hide it very well. There are these individuals who know how to handle themselves despite being tormented inside. These individuals are great at pretending, denying, and ignoring their overall damage.

Something You Can Control

Usually, people would often say they understand what others are going through when talking about mental illness. But do they? The more reason why people with mental health conditions do not want to express themselves is because of those who pretend to know everything.

Mental illness is not something people can snap out of. It is not that easy. No one wants to deal with a mental health problem, so there is no point in telling them to “get over it,” “you will soon be fine,” and “that’s just something that will go away eventually.”

As I repeatedly attempt to understand myself, especially the changes I make with my every behavior and the things I hold on to, I often go back to the mental illness I once experienced. It was a long and tiring battle that I thanked God for overcoming. I didn’t know what was going on and what I should do, honestly. I was dealing with such emotional and mental pain and agony that somehow slowly killed me inside. There was agitation, exhaustion, nervousness, emotional dilemma, fatigue, severe or persistent tiredness, other physical symptoms like backache, chronic pain conditions, and all sorts of negativity that put a lot of weight on my overall wellness. It was a disaster and a crucial part of my existence. Back then, I was hesitant to acknowledge my mental health struggle. I thought maybe it was all in my mind that I felt so lonely and sad for no particular reason. I thought it was normal and that every individual deals with that kind of emotional phase in life. I never knew that something was wrong – or I didn’t acknowledge it, to say the least.

However, the hidden signs of depression are not that friendly. There were times that, as much as I wanted to ignore them, they kept on coming back. I am not sure if those warning signals ever go away, but I am pretty sure they are causing me a hell of mental and emotional damage.

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Fortunately, today, I am more than careful about things around me. As much as possible, I try to learn more about my stressors to keep them away and not trigger my hidden depression or smiling depression. Thus, I am confident I can now distinguish the hidden signs of depression. Of course, I sometimes make mistakes and a couple of small assumptions. I am not a specialist in handling mental health issues, though. But at least I am paying close attention to my overall emotional and mental health. Here’s to the frequently asked questions that guided me along the way of my mental health journey.

Managing My Depression

By knowing some of the unnoticeable signs of depression, I was able to spot them and manage my mental health better. I now understand that sadness, irritability, and fatigue can all be signs of major depressive disorder, and I have learned to recognize when these feelings might be signaling a more serious issue. I have also learned to be mindful of my thoughts and feelings, which helps me identify and address any underlying issues.

Additionally, I am more aware of my triggers and know how to manage them. I can recognize when I am feeling overwhelmed and can take steps to lower my stress levels. I also know when I need to take a break and give myself time to rest and relax. I have learned that self-care is essential to managing my own mental well-being.

It has taken me a lot of hard work and dedication, but I am now better equipped to recognize and address the signs of depression which are most of the time not noticed or seen. I am proud of the progress I have made and continue to make in my mental health journey.

Recognizing Struggles

Though I have come a long way in my mental health journey, there are still times when I struggle. I have learned that it is important to reach out for help when I am feeling overwhelmed. I have found comfort in talking to friends and family and accepting healthcare professionals’ help to be incredibly beneficial. Through therapy, I have been able to gain insight into my mental health, understand my triggers, and develop coping strategies for managing my depression.

It is important to remember that mental health is something that needs to be taken seriously. It is not something to be ignored or brushed aside, assuming that it is nothing but a phase that will go away on its own. Learning to recognize the signs of depression and developing strategies to manage them can make a huge difference in improving one’s mental health. I am thankful that I have become more aware of my mental health and am now better equipped to manage it.

My journey has been challenging, but it has also been rewarding. I have learned a lot about myself and am now better able to take control of my mental health. I am thankful for the progress I have made and the emotional support I have received along the way. I hope that my story can serve as an example to others and provide them with the hope and courage to take control of their mental health and recognize the masked signs that somebody is going through depression.

Wrapping Up

If you are struggling with mental health, please remember that you are not alone. There is help available, and you can get the support you need to improve your mental health. Reach out to your family, friends, or a mental health professional for help. You can also look for mental health resources online or in your community or maybe seek suicide prevention help. Taking action and recognizing the masked indications of depression can make a huge difference in your life.

Is It Possible To Diagnose Yourself With MDD (Major Depressive Disorder)?

No, it is not possible to diagnose yourself with depression. It can only be possible if you, yourself, are a licensed and certified psychiatrist, psychologist, therapist, or counselor with knowledge and expertise in the field. You can read about the depression symptoms on social media or other sources, and if you see these signs, you cannot assume right away. You have to go to a mental health expert and ask for their advice. You have to go to a mental health expert and ask for their advice.

What Is The Most Reliable Symptoms Of MDD?

The very common symptom of people with depression is the feeling of extreme sadness. While there are many signs and symptoms of depression, feeling very sad is a common factor in people with the said disorder. If you feel so sad, which lasts for more than two weeks, and you cannot function properly in your day-to-day life, you might be depressed, and with that, you need to see a professional in mental health.

But of course, there are instances or scenarios in life that can cause typical sadness. Do not always assume that when you are dealing with emotional changes, it is already depression. There is more to mental health than just feeling sad.

Pay close attention to the other hidden depression symptoms that also get in the way of your emotional, physical, and mental capabilities aside from extreme sadness.

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What Are The Warning Indications Of A Mental Breakdown?

The most prevalent warning signs that a person is experiencing or about to experience a mental breakdown include depressive mood disorders like feeling hopeless or thoughts of self-harm using other potentially harmful objects, extreme anxiety like stomach pains, dizzy spells, high blood pressure and tension, insomnia, hallucinations, and extreme emotional outbursts or mood swings. If you or a loved one manifest these, go to a psychologist or psychiatrist immediately.

What Are The Warning Indications That A Person Has Poor Mental Health?

A person with poor mental health with manifest signs like sad or depressed feelings, change in emotions, eating less or overeating, sleeping less or not sleeping much, oversleeping, social withdrawal, very sensitive, focus issues, apathetic behavior, disconnection, irrational thinking, fear, and unusual behavior not seemingly of the person. See a mental health professional immediately if this happens to you.

What Is The Tattoo Symbol For MDD?

There are many depression tattoos, and one of them is the semicolon. Having a tattoo is now considered a way to express oneself. The tattoo symbolizes strength and hope for most. Seeing it every single day is a reminder that depression can be overcome.

What Specific Color Is Associated With Someone Who Is Undergoing Persistent Low Mood?

Some say that depression is the color gray. It usually refers to one’s state of mind, according to ScienceDaily.

Though gray represents balance and neutrality in some cases, it somehow carries negative association, for the most part, when it comes to grief and depression.

Why Is A Semicolon A Symbol Pertaining To Mental Health Illnesses Like Depression?

It was initiated in 2015 by UpWorthy and called Project Semicolon. It means “I am still here,” and this visual is a movement that lets people know that there is hope and love for those fighting depression, self-harm, addiction, and suicidal thinking.

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A Few Final Thoughts And Takeaways To Consider

I know that handling depression is not easy, and I would not suggest it to anyone to deal with their mental and emotional health issues alone. Yes, there may be some hidden signs that you often think you can handle the pressure on your own, but believe me, there is no such severe mental illness that you can deal with without professional help. The only way you can walk away from the damage of depression is by realizing that it exists and is about to stay for a long period. Never underestimate what mental health conditions can do to your overall wellness. Because in an instant, it can break and tear you down.

Again, if you are dealing with a mental health issue such as major depressive disorder and even bipolar disorder, but are unfamiliar with the warning signs, take time to learn more about it. It is much better to spend time reading and understanding mental illness rather than building assumptions about it. It will also help if you talk to someone about what you are going through with biological and chemical differences to guide you with the right coping methods.

FAQs

What Is The Unseen Factor Causing Major Depressive Disorder or MDD?

What Are The Underrated Symptoms Of MDD?

What Does Silent Depression Mean?

What Are The Noticeable Characteristics When Someone Has Major Depressive Disorder or MDD?

Who Usually Develops MDD?

What is cognitive behavioral therapy? Here’s an important question: Do you know that cognitive behavioral therapy is the leading solution to mental health disorders?

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Fear and anxiousness are regular parts of our lives. That is reality and most people know it.

What Is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?

This new cognitive behavior treatment or mental health treatment helps us detect dangers in our environment.

Despite this, too much fear and anxiety are also detrimental. It may require us to seek clinical trials and sessions with professionals to relieve these emotions and problems back to a healthy level and find a good way of thinking about our future lives.

Conditions that irrational fears like phobia and anxiety can severely impact daily lives. When accompanied by recurring panic attacks, everyday life becomes more difficult. It may also end up affecting relationships too.

Fortunately, clinical psychology made more advanced mental health training to manage these conditions. These changes made it possible for people suffering from social anxiety disorders like phobias and panic disorders to get treated. Medicine and self-talk therapy help deal with and manage these conditions. In particular, cognitive behavioral therapy has been one of the well-researched options compared to other therapies for people with mental illness symptoms.

Cognitive behavioral therapy stands on the belief that our thoughts and feelings affect our behavior. Cognitive behavioral therapy is a short-term treatment plan that helps patients identify destructive thoughts and emotions. It teaches techniques and methods to control destructive thoughts easily, as well as eating disorders and substance use disorders.

Cognitive behavioral therapy is not only for people with anxiety disorders. It also works for people with anger issues, addiction, eating disorders, stress, bipolar disorders, mood disorders, and even depression. Cognitive behavioral therapy helps people focus on their present thoughts through self-monitoring, goal setting, and stress management practices.

CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) focuses on helping people change learned patterns of unhelpful behavior. Cognitive behavioral therapy teaches problem-solving skills and counters unhelpful ways of thinking that can help people cultivate a better understanding of their actions and focus on moving forward in their lives. Cognitive behavioral therapy is effective in many studies for treating marital problems, anxiety disorders, cognitive distortions, and other forms of problems through role-playing.

If you are interested in learning about cognitive behavioral therapy and how it can help, here are the frequently asked questions about cognitive behavioral therapy.

Doing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a kind of talk therapy that typically lasts around 30 minutes to an hour per session. You can choose to have one-on-one sessions or do it with a group, friends, or family members in your first appointment. Since it is an effective tool and a problem-oriented treatment in a few cognitive behavioral therapy sessions, your therapist will help you break down a problem into distinct components made up of your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.

Once you’ve identified these harmful thoughts, you can work on forming more helpful practices to embed in your everyday life. Your therapist may issue homework or worksheets to monitor your progress and help build the habit and develop coping skills without having to prescribe medications.

An Example Of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy And How To Do It

Cognitive behavioral therapy is useful for a wide range of problems and may also be used to treat individuals with substance use disorders and address emotional challenges and psychological distress. In this case, a therapist in clinical practice may start by asking how you got into the habit in the first place. Before a craving sets in, what do you usually think or feel? How do you feel afterward? How many cognitive behavioral therapy sessions can you handle? Your therapist will work with you to anticipate high-risk situations and develop healthier coping strategies that do not involve alcohol or other harmful substances. These are covered by health insurance.

Cognitive behavioral therapy is a form of psychotherapy that focuses on the close interrelationship between thoughts, feelings, and behavior. It is based on the assumption that certain ways of inaccurate thinking or feeling influence a person’s behavior instead of chemical imbalances in the brain. By recognizing and re-evaluating harmful thoughts, patients can build healthier thought patterns and learn better coping strategies.

Studies have shown that cognitive behavioral therapy can help patients with depression, anxiety, and phobias while relieving the symptoms of physical conditions like chronic pain, tinnitus, and rheumatism.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a clinical psychological therapy and psychological treatment that is based on the idea that our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are all interconnected.

CBT therapists work with their clients to help them identify and change negative thinking patterns and other forms of unhealthy behavioral patterns through the clinical practice of cognitive behavioral therapy treatment. Cognitive behavioral therapy is an effective treatment for a wide range of mental health conditions.

What Are The Three Goals Of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?

Cognitive behavioral therapy aims to relieve a person’s symptoms and resolve immediate problems by forming better-coping mechanisms. Even if the cognitive behavioral therapy session has ended, it is hoped that you have acquired the necessary skills to examine and respond to a particular situation from a place of self-compassion. Lastly, cognitive behavioral therapy aims to restructure cerebral patterns to prevent relapse.

Cognitive behavioral therapy has several core principles. One is that our thoughts influence our emotions and behaviors. So, if we can change the way we think, we can change the way we feel and behave.

Another Core Principle Of CBT Is That It Focuses On The Here-And-Now

That means CBT therapists help their clients focus on current problems and issues instead of dwelling on the past.

Can You Do CBT On Yourself?

It’s possible to do cognitive behavioral therapy without a therapist. Journaling is one cognitive behavioral therapy technique that may help you get your thoughts and emotions in order. Start by writing down a particular mood or thought, trace it to its source, rate the intensity, and describe your behavioral responses.

Putting Your Thoughts On Paper Might Bring To The Surface Some Cerebral Distortions That You Need To Work On.

There are self-help books and online courses that more closely follow a face-to-face session for those seeking a more structured cognitive behavioral therapy experience.

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What Is It Not Good For And Why?

Despite its popularity, CBT may not answer patients suffering from more complex mental health conditions like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

Therapists should adjust their techniques to patients who may not be capable of examining their thoughts and motivations. It’s important to note that CBT is only one component of a comprehensive treatment plan that should be tailored to a patient’s unique goals, personality, and medical condition.

CBT helps people learn how to manage their emotions and cope with difficult and challenging situations. It can be an effective treatment for anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions. CBT can be done in individual or group sessions. It may also be combined with psychiatric medications.

CBT can be a long-term commitment, but it can also provide short-term relief from symptoms. Regular practice can alleviate difficulties and help you cope with daily life through its many benefits.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

What are the 4 steps of mental restructuring?

Cognitive restructuring is an essential part of CBT. The first step is to bring your problematic thoughts to the surface, either through conversations with your therapist or weekly activities. Once you’re aware of these cerebral distortions, it’s time to categorize them as unhealthy, harmful, or unproductive.

From then, you can proceed to challenge the thought and dissect it even further. Finally, you’re ready to work on replacing cognitive distortion with more helpful and rational ways of thinking about a situation.

Is this therapy the same as behavioral therapy?

No. As the name suggests, CBT draws on both cognitive and behavioral therapy approaches. It is based on the assumption that thoughts precede feelings and shape behavior, reflecting its heavy cerebral focus. When patients recognize their problematic thoughts and beliefs, they are better positioned to react and respond more healthily.

How long does it take for CBT to work?

Like most other treatments, the results of CBT are not immediate and vary per person. Some patients report improved outcomes after a few weeks, while others may only notice changes after several months. Traditional CBT treatments are usually staggered over 12-20 weeks.

While CBT may not cure your condition, it can equip you with the necessary tools to approach situations differently.

What is the success rate of this method?

Research systematic review shows that CBT is up to 75% effective in helping patients with anxiety and moderate to severe depression. In some cases, CBT may even be as effective as antidepressants or short-term therapy, rational emotive behavioral therapy, exposure therapy, and psychodynamic therapy,  although it is more commonly used in tandem with prescription medication and other rational emotive behavior therapy or cognitive and behavioral strategies.

The most important thing to remember if you’re suffering from any mental health problem is to believe there is hope. If you or a loved one have any mental health issues like posttraumatic stress disorder or poor emotional health, do not hesitate to reach out to professionals for therapeutic approaches to treat depression, major depressive disorder, behavior patterns, substance use disorder, and other emotional challenges.

As much as possible, do not keep it all to yourself. Relying solely on your friends is also not advisable. Friends can listen to your thoughts and emotions, but they may not be able to provide the help you need.

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People are getting the help they need through advancements in psychology.  With cognitive behavioral interventions, negative thoughts and emotions are transformed into healthy actions.  This method makes it easier for people suffering from crippling emotions to function better in society and their relationships.

Over time, the effects of therapy will manifest. Self-awareness is present both in and outside therapy sessions. You will also learn the value of sharing with other people and talking about how you feel.

Final Thoughts On CBT

Although CBT  is well-researched, it does not mean that it is for everyone, according to a licensed mental health professional. This relatively short-term method is very structured, and mental illness therapists practicing it rarely deviate from their plans. Changes, too, are not instant. You will need to focus and trust the process to spark change.

It is essential to trust in yourself and your mental health condition therapist. CBT techniques and coping skills are not a cure. It provides the means to get you where you need to be. It is a ray of hope for people to move on from deep emotional and mental health problems (e.g., post-traumatic stress disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, etc.).

Frequently Asked Questions

What Are Some Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Techniques?

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) incorporates various techniques to address issues like depression anxiety and obsessive compulsive disorder. These techniques include recognizing negative thought patterns, exposure therapy for post traumatic stress disorder, and behavioral interventions for obsessive compulsive habits.

Why Is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Considered The Most Effective Therapy?

CBT is often considered the most effective therapy because it directly addresses negative thought patterns associated with conditions like depression anxiety and obsessive compulsive disorder. By targeting these patterns, it offers relief and tools for managing symptoms, especially for those with traumatic stress disorder.

How Do You Introduce Home CBT?

Introducing home therapy CBT involves setting up a routine, familiarizing oneself with techniques to manage conditions such as depression and anxiety, and applying interventions for issues like obsessive compulsive disorder. It’s essential to use trusted resources and, if possible, work with a therapist to guide the process.

When Is CBT Not Appropriate?

While CBT is beneficial for many, it might not be suitable for individuals with severe post traumatic stress disorder or those who have difficulty with introspection. In cases of complex traumatic stress, a combination of therapies might be more effective.

What Are The Obstacles Confronted By The CBT Approach?

The CBT approach may face challenges in treating deeply rooted obsessive compulsive disorder or chronic depression anxiety. Some individuals might also struggle with confronting their traumatic experiences, making the post traumatic healing process more challenging.

What Is The Difference Between Cognitive Behavioral Therapy And CT?

What Is The Primary Focus Of CBT?

What is the most common time frame for a person to see positive results in CBT?

What is an alternate approach to CBT if it is not effective?

What does a typical CBT session look like?

What are the 5 steps of CBT?

What are the 3 basic principles and concepts of CBT?

Can I do CBT by myself?

Is CBT good for anxiety?

What are examples of CBT for anxiety?

Once or twice in our lives, we experience a painful and devastating romantic breakup. It can come from all sorts of reasons, such as cheating, falling out of romantic love, and personality differences. Breakups do not support emotional and mental clarity. More often, it gives us high levels of stress, anxiety, and major depressive disorder. In some instances, we get too focused on what we think we feel instead of what we actually thought we think about it. With that, we can all agree that breakups can contribute a lot to destabilizing our mental health. With that, we need to be mindful. A bad breakup is one of the most important parts of a relationship, but it does not have to become fundamental to our mental health recovery after a breakup.

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Admittedly, There Is No Easy Way Out

Recovering from a breakup or needs to run a process so you can start moving forward. First, we have to deal with the matters of the broken relationship. If that is something we can fix, we might as well fix it. If the problem is something we can leave behind us, we should find a way not to overthink it. Of course, the statement seems too easy to accomplish because we know that the mental and emotional struggle tends to be different. All of us deal with heartaches differently, and that can be a challenging moment for everyone. Needless to say, there is no simple way out. Unfortunately, that mentality somehow results in isolation and even self-harm.  Therefore, we need to feel the pain and survive the emotional and mental torture before we can entirely pull ourselves out of the misery.

But on a note, even if we manage to acknowledge the pain we feel, the guarantee of keeping our mental state is not yet on a full course. There are times that we get too attached to the heartache that we often do not want to open ourselves to anyone anymore and forget self-care. In some cases, the pain and sorrow leave a mark that can become pretty much irreplaceable. As a result, we tend to change our perspectives. We begin to see the negativities of everything around us, and we often look for people’s flaws. We build this mentality that people (friends and family member) who come into our lives are always after something. We become doubtful, anxious, and always feel threatened. Sadly, that instant shift in negative perspective happens every time with a hundred percent probability.

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Heartache Recovery Is All Messed

Given that we end up with sorrows in pain after a failed relationship, most of us often take the damage seriously. We grieve with our loss that we cannot find time to think about the other good things around us. Sometimes, we even fail to realize that stressful life events are more than just heartaches and misery. Instead, we talk and dwell in the past and allow ourselves to get trapped by the idea of sacrificing more. That is for the sake of getting back what we have lost. In the time process of recovering from the relationship damage, we believe that the more we feel hurt, the stronger we get. We fail to realize that the more the pain penetrates our emotional and mental state, the less we become aware of self-love.

Clearly, most people can lie to us and say that their breakup or relation ends didn’t hurt that much. They know that mental health recovery after breakup is complicated as well. Because the truth is, it does. We may handle the pain differently, but the damage still affects some parts of our lives. It changes the way we view a romantic relationship, and it can make us judge people’s character in an instant. Despite telling ourselves that things will be okay, we somehow know deep inside that the healing process will take a while. We understand the exertion of effort we need to put in so that we can guarantee a better and more fulfilling heartache recovery. Allow time to heal the heart

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Emotional And Cognitive Torture

For some of us who are not emotionally and mentally strong enough to face reality, it can be quite frustrating. The idea of the heartache itself is self-explanatory. It consists of a lot of negative emotions and reactions that we often can’t control. It does not have a pause or stop button that we can switch on every time we feel emotionally distraught or experience a mix of negative feelings. Alongside it, we only understand suffering and devastation. From that circumstance, we know something is wrong. Sadly, there is no immediate solution to that.

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Final Thoughts And Takeaways To Consider

A failed relationship is everyone’s worst daily life experience. Of course, nobody wants to see themselves getting stuck on a roller coaster of unwanted emotions. Unfortunately, depression after a breakup contributes a lot to that damage as well as affects your self-esteem. It is not easy to mentally and emotionally recover from the pain. It requires a different level of important feelings, courage and motivation to break free even from the new smallest thing that keeps you holding onto it. But despite all the unfortunate heartache, there is still hope that somehow and someday, we will be able to experience feeling appreciated and loved again. If you still can’t handle your situation and experience more than normal sadness, contact the national suicide prevention lifeline if you’re having mental health issues (i.e., bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, etc.) or seek professional help from a medically reviewed clinical psychologist or an online therapy expert.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Long Does It Take To Heal From A Separation?

How Do You Heal From A Split-Up?

Can A Separation Affect Your Cognitive Wellness?

What Are The 5 Stages Of Healing After A Split?

What Is The Hardest Stage Of A Split?

Why Is Silence Powerful After A Separation?

What Is The Best Revenge After A Split?

Is No Contact The Best Revenge?

Can Silence Bring Him Back?

Will No Contact Make Him Miss Me?

When A Man Goes Silent It Is His Loudest Cry?

Should I Text My Ex Who Dumped Me?

Should I Contact My Ex After 3 Months?

Is No Contact Working On My Ex?

Will My Ex Contact Me Again?

I believe that your family is the most important thing in your life. They are the ones that stay with you no matter what. They are the best individuals you can have whenever you experience hardships in life. They support, understand, love, and care for you, unconditionally. However, not all families are like that. Sometimes, these individuals can promote the opposite. They can be as mean as you can imagine. They can be the worst individuals to be with. That instead of lifting you, they sometimes pull you down. Instead of reassuring your overall wellness, they become the cause of your mental and emotional damage. So how can you recover from that type of family?

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Even if your family is functional and happy, there are still members of the unit that often cross the line. Most of the time, they treat you so that you do not prefer to be treated. Some would say you can at least talk to them about it. But honestly, it doesn’t work like that. Sometimes, there are way better things to do for you to get away from their toxicity. It would be better to understand that your needs should come first.

Try Cutting Down The Time You Spend With Them

One of the little reasons family relationships often end up having a lot of misunderstandings is not because you spend little time with them. The truth is, the more you interact with them, the more you get accustomed to engaging in different opinions. It eventually leads to conflict. But don’t get the wrong impression. You still have to interact and connect with your family from time to time. But to avoid further emotional and mental damage, you need to cut down the time you spend with them. If you can allow yourself to have a brief time, then work on it. Do not feel guilty for not hanging around for an extended period. Because if family members are toxic, it will not matter how much time you spend with them because nothing will be enough for them.

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If Hints Don’t Work, Call Them Out Directly

Of course, you would not want to offend your family. There are times that you are not capable of telling them how annoying and irritating their presence is in your life. That would be rude and inconsiderate on your part. But if you already tried dropping hints or managed to get on with passive-aggressive boundaries, but still nothing works, call them out directly. Allow yourself to become more explicit about your rules so that you can keep toxicity in place. Never feel ashamed of telling them how they are ruining your well-being. It would be best if you stood up for yourself by preventing them from destroying your emotional and mental wellness.

Do Not Let Them Manipulate You

By any chance, never allow toxic family members to manipulate you. Please do not fall into the trap of giving in to their desire in exchange for your overall stability. You need to understand that toxic family members are often masters of manipulation where they use guilt to make you do whatever pleases them. Yes, there can be times that you might not notice yourself getting locked up with their hands. But when you do manage to pull through, make it a habit to say “NO.” Ensure that you stick to your point and always consider doing what you think is best for your overall development. Please do not allow them to feel entitled to hurt you. Do not give more than what you are comfortable giving. Learn to limit the things you do for them because nothing is enough for them anyway.

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No Need To Explain Yourself

Toxic family members love drama. They have this eagerness to get a sense of control over everything, even on the things that do not benefit them. Often they would want your actions and decisions prearranged for them. That explains why they usually want to intrude on your personal space. Sometimes, if you ignore them, it becomes a big deal. But you don’t have to give a damn about it. You do not owe these people an explanation of why you want to secure your overall emotional and mental health. The more explanations you provide them, the worse the situation could get. Thus, it would be best if you realized that nothing ever meets these toxic people’s standards regarding limitations, personal space, and respect.

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Honestly, you cannot always figure out immediately what to do with a messy family relationship. Sometimes, you are already in a deep and challenging situation before you could ever realize that you need to care for yourself. So in case you are having difficulties, always remember that your life decisions matter. It is only you who can change the way these individuals treat you.