Invisible crutch

I think one of the hardest things about coping with mental health issues is all of the people that you know who do not have it and therefore have a very difficult time understanding it. I was one of those people. My first wife struggled with depression. I remember telling her all of my cures for something that I knew nothing about. I would say comments like, "you are sad because you are not taking care of your health with proper diet, and not exercising enough." Or "just snap out of it, why are you always so sad?" It was the invisible crutch that I was not seeing or trying to see. When you physically hurt yourself, mostly it is visible and get some empathy. But when you can not see the ailment, it can be dismissed, or worse.

In my case, the comments I get the most are "quit obsessing all the time and you will get better." It is like hearing, get rid of your anxiety and you will get better. Well that is a useless statement and reflects the lack of understanding about mental health issues - like it is a choice to hurt yourself - repeatedly.

Anytime I meet anyone with mental health issues, it is like an unsaid bond, I can relate. I can sympathize, I have an idea what you are going through. I see the crutch, I speak the language, I get it.