Mental Illness Decimates Self-Image, Sense of Self-Worth

Here's what's happening on the HealthyPlace site this week:

• Mental Illness Decimates Self-Image, Sense of Self-Worth
• From the HealthyPlace Mental Health Blogs
• Most Popular HealthyPlace Articles Shared by Facebook Fans
• Mental Health Quote

Mental Illness Decimates Self-Image, Sense of Self-Worth

Mental illness can destroy your self-image. You see, a tragic effect of mental illness is how it can make you feel about yourself. Living with mental illness affects the way you think, how you feel about yourself, others, and your life, and the things you believe you can and can’t do. A relentless bully, mental illness damages self-esteem and sense of self-worth. The more you listen to its loud (albeit false) accusations of your inherent value, the more your self-image and sense of self-worth takes a hit.

Mental illness distorts thinking. This means that the negative thoughts you have about yourself aren’t accurate. In reality, you are a complete person, not an illness. You have strengths and positive traits. It’s hard, but you can come to see them and believe in yourself.

• Start by acknowledging it and know that it may take some time to fully believe it.
• Spend time identifying your positive traits and qualities. Catch yourself doing little things you’re proud of, reflect on your traits in a journal, and/or keep a running list of your positive qualities that you add to regularly.
• Do something every day to use one of your positive qualities.

Be kind to yourself. You’re not your mental illness, and with persistence, your voice will be much louder than that of your illness.

Source:

Suicide rising across the US. (2018). Centers for Disease Control. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/suicide/

Related Articles Relating to Your Worth, Self-Esteem, and Mental Illness

• The Connection Between Self-Hatred and Suicide
• How to Turn Negative Self-Talk into Positive Self-Talk
• Change Negative Thoughts into Positive Self-Talk
• Talk Back to Negative Self-Talk and Make it Go Away
• How to Identify Your Good Qualities if You Have Low Self-Esteem (video)
• Using Your Strengths When You Feel Weak Improves Your Mood
• 5 Character Strengths of People Living with Anxiety
• Positive Qualities of ADD

Your Thoughts

Today's Question: What helps you believe in your worth when mental illness fills you with negative self-talk? We invite you to participate by sharing your thoughts, experiences, and knowledge on the HealthyPlace Facebook page.

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From the HealthyPlace Mental Health Blogs

On all our blogs, your comments and observations are welcomed.

• My Shifting Views on Psychiatric Medication
• Mental Illness in the Media
• How to Cope After a Disappointment or Heartbreak
• Why I Use Yoga for Anxiety
• Link Between Procrastination and Anxiety Plus 3 Helpful Tips
• It's Okay to Take a Mental Health Day Even During a Pandemic
• Stages I Went Through Before Accepting My ADHD Diagnosis
• Your Identity Is More than an Eating Disorder
• Living in the Present Builds Self-Esteem
• Reaching Out to Your Community for DID Support
• Tips to Stop Binge Eating at Night to Support ED Recovery
• Why It Gets Worse Before It Gets Better
• Self-Harm, Poor Body Image, and Drug-Induced Weight Gain
• Can Learned Behavior Masquerade as a Mental Illness?
• The Appearance of High-Functioning Bipolar Online
• What to Do When Your Depression Causes Dissociation
• Schizoaffective Disorder and the Summer of COVID-19
• How Sex Addiction Impacts a Marriage
• Is Your Self-Harm Getting Worse? Here's What to Do
• 8 Types of Activities to Include in Your Anxiety Plan
• Mental Health Issues in Extroverts, Introverts, and Ambiverts

Feel free to share your thoughts and comments at the bottom of any blog post. And visit the mental health blogs homepage for the latest posts.

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Most Popular HealthyPlace Articles Shared by Facebook Fans

Here are the top 3 mental health articles HealthyPlace Facebook fans are recommending you read:

1. What Is It Like to Hear Voices in DID?
2. Find the Quiet Space Inside When Anxiety Gets Too Loud
3. How Going with the Flow Helped Me Grow

If you're not already, I hope you'll join us/like us on Facebook too. There are a lot of wonderful, supportive people there.

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Mental Health Quote

"Healing doesn't mean the damage never existed. It means the damage no longer controls our lives."

Read more mental health quotes.

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