How to Live With Chronic Mental Illness
Living with chronic mental illness can be challenging, but it doesn't have to be completely debilitating. With the right strategies in place and the help of family, friends, and professionals, you can better manage your condition and live a full, satisfying life.
What does Chronic Mental Illness mean?
Chronic mental illness refers to a long-term and persistent condition that affects a person's mental health, cognitive processes, and emotional well-being. These conditions often include mood disorders like depression or bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders such as generalized anxiety disorder or obsessive-compulsive disorder, and psychotic disorders like schizophrenia.
Chronic mental illness may have a profound impact on a person's ability to function in daily life, including their ability to work, maintain relationships, and participate in social activities.
These conditions may require ongoing treatment, including therapy, medication, and other supportive interventions to help individuals manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life.
Strategies for Managing Chronic Mental Illness
Research your condition
The first step in managing a chronic illness is to first understand what specifically you’re dealing with. Learn as much as possible about your illness, including its symptoms, causes, and treatments. This knowledge will help you better understand your condition, make informed decisions about your care, and communicate more effectively with your healthcare team. While it might seem like a small first step, this knowledge will give you the power to understand and start dealing with even the hardest parts of your illness.
Build a strong support system
Living with a chronic illness can be isolating, but you don't have to go through it alone. Building a strong support system is essential for managing your condition. This can include family members, friends, support groups, or online communities. Having a support system can provide emotional support, practical help, and a sense of belonging.
Having a strong support system provides more than just a feeling of comfort. Having a group of people who you trust to help you get through the tough times also provides healthy accountability and practical help in situations where it might be difficult or unrealistic for you to accomplish things on your own. Friends and family can help encourage your self-care routines and healthy habits while also providing help for daily tasks or activities that might be difficult for you to manage alone.
Develop a self-care routine
Self-care is an important part of managing a chronic illness. Develop a self-care routine that includes activities that promote physical, mental, and emotional well-being. This can include exercise, meditation, healthy eating, getting enough sleep, and practicing relaxation techniques. It is important to individualize your routine to fit your lifestyle, goals, and interests. Find activities that you’ll actually want to stick to!
Rather than focusing on the things you don’t enjoy doing, think of a different alternative. Not a fan of going to the gym? Try yoga and meditation (you could even try it outside to mix it up). Not an artistic person? Try journaling! No matter what your goals or interests are, there are self-care activities for you.
Communicate effectively with your healthcare team
Effective communication with your healthcare team is essential. Be honest and open with your healthcare providers about your symptoms, concerns, and goals. Ask questions, clarify any information you don't understand, and work together with your healthcare team to develop a treatment plan that is right for you.
This also means taking an active role in your treatment: following your treatment plan, taking your medications as prescribed, and attending all your medical appointments. It also means advocating for yourself and speaking up if you have concerns or questions about your care. Remember that you deserve to get better.
Manage your stress
Stress can exacerbate chronic illness symptoms, so it's important to manage your stress levels. This can include practicing relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing, meditation, or yoga. It can also include finding healthy ways to cope with stress, such as talking to a friend or therapist, engaging in a hobby you enjoy, or spending time in nature.
Stay positive
This phrase is often used disingenuously as a way to discredit the real challenges of mental illness, but it’s still an important thing to remember. A positive reframing of daily life takes intentionality and, most importantly, practice. Focus on the things you can do, rather than what you can't do. Celebrate your accomplishments, no matter how small they may seem. Surround yourself with positive people who uplift and support you. While it might be uncomfortable at first, really try to lift up the good things. Eventually, it will come naturally.
Therapy for Mental Illness in Raleigh, NC
Virtual and In-Person Therapy Sessions
Therapy can be highly beneficial for individuals with chronic mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia.
One of the primary ways therapy helps is by providing a safe and supportive environment for individuals to explore and address their emotional and psychological challenges. Through therapy, individuals can learn coping mechanisms, gain insight into their thought patterns and behaviors, and develop healthy ways of managing their symptoms. Therapy can also provide a space for individuals to process traumatic experiences or past traumas that may be contributing to their chronic illness. By working with a trained mental health professional, individuals with chronic mental illnesses can gain a greater sense of control over their lives and improve their overall quality of life.
There are various types of therapy that can be helpful for people with chronic mental illness.
Common Types of Therapy:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): CBT focuses on identifying and changing negative thought patterns and behaviors. It has been shown to be effective for a variety of mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder.
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT): DBT combines cognitive behavioral therapy with mindfulness techniques. It is often used to treat borderline personality disorder and other conditions that involve intense emotions and difficulty regulating them. If you want to learn more, read our blog about DBT here!
Interpersonal Therapy (IPT): IPT is a type of therapy that focuses on improving interpersonal relationships and communication skills. It has been shown to be effective for depression and other mood disorders.
Family Therapy: Family therapy involves working with family members to improve communication and relationships. It can be helpful for conditions such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, which can have a significant impact on family dynamics.
Group Therapy: Group therapy involves working with a therapist and other people with similar mental health challenges. It can provide a sense of community and support, as well as opportunities to practice social skills and learn from others. Check our Group Therapy services in Raleigh, NC here!
It's important to note that therapy can be tailored to the individual's needs, and sometimes a combination of different types of therapy may be most effective.
As licensed and experienced therapists, we’ve found that it is essential to foster an environment that feels supportive, comfortable, and collaborative. At Your Journey Through, we utilize both evidence-based practices and creative therapeutic approaches, with an understanding that counseling is not “one-size fits all.”
Together we will explore your experiences, behaviors, and beliefs. With the benefit of fresh insight, you will be able to identify patterns that are holding you back from health and happiness while gaining the strength and strategies to overcome them.
We offer flexible scheduling and both in-person and virtual appointment availability, because we want therapy to be as accessible, convenient, and comfortable for you as possible.
