Living Long-Term with Mental Illness

We would - of course - want to get rid of this thing forever and heaven knows we will have tried. But the more time passes, the more we have to take on board a bleaker, unavoidable reality: this thing is here for the long term. How can we survive this ostensibly extremely dispiriting realisation?

FURTHER READING

“We would – of course – like any encounter with mental illness to be as brief as possible and, most importantly, to be isolated and singular. But the reality is that for many of us, the illness will threaten to return for visits throughout our lives, it will be a condition to which we will be permanently susceptible. So the challenge isn’t to learn to survive only a one-off crisis; it’s to set in place a framework that can help us to manage our fragility over the long-term. Some of the following moves, practical and psychological, suggest themselves…”

MORE SCHOOL OF LIFE

Watch more films on SELF in our playlist:

SOCIAL MEDIA

Feel free to follow us at the links below:

CREDITS

Produced in collaboration with:

Leon Moh-cah

Title animation produced in collaboration with

Graeme Probert

[dukedex]

People think they're so empathetic, yet having mental illness all I see is people judging me as a weirdo. Thanks for that.

[Kingkillwatts]

It’s a daily struggle. It’s like fighting twice as hard just to do what normal people do (work regularly, have energy, thinking clearly). Sucks bro. Depression is ass

[yzu_]

“Our extreme sport is staying alive.” Got tears rushed to my eyes. - Autism & bipolar disorder for decades now. Thank you for this, self help can be so degrading sometimes, forcing people like me into a position of forcing remission. It’s about maintenance despite the weeds ready to grow back.

[TNTsquid.]

"Our extreme sport is the challenge of staying alive" made me tear up. Hit too close to home. Thank you for this video.

[evlogiy]

"We need to become the kind of people who can say, without bitterness or irony, 'Wednesday went well, ' and recognize that as a serious accomplishment."

This is one of the hardest things for me, but, gosh, I love it when I can pat myself on the back for doing just alright—for simply surviving the day without trying to do more than I can.

Thanks for the video, and thanks for the community you're creating. I love you all, people of the comments. ❤

[matthewlidis]

Brilliant video. 45 now and I am only just coming to terms with the fact the depression isn't just going to magically disappear one day. Sending love to you all.

[escapistreader]

I said that this to my therapist lately. I am exhausted. It's been more than 14 years. My cPTSD and depression don't leave me.
To top it all, pathological narcissists find me.

[playstore]

Suffering from severe OCD, it's not a quirk or personality type, it is one of the most disabling conditions in which the person is stuck in endless nightmare of their worst fear.

[nandinirm]

Am struggling with
It's been soo difficult
This video.made me cry

[happytan]

0:54 - Adopt a certain mindset
1:32 - Celebrate small wins
2:21 - Seek out the right people
3:29 - Care / remain vigilant to the likelihood of relapse

Thanks for this video.

[jillleppard]

You are the most invested person in your life. Understanding yourself is a lifetime occupation.
Rest, reload & try again. Repeat as necessary.

[Winnee]

Struggling BPD here, the crippling loneliness that comes with the struggle is literally killing me at times.

[Morale_Booster]

🙏 thank you. This is exactly how i have felt my entire life. I feel less alone hearing others live the same way

[falalala]

“Our extreme sport is staying alive”. With the amount of aspirations I have in life, and the degree of those aspirations, I refuse to accept that I need to merely survive in my life. I want to look forward to more than just having an okay day.

[tiffiniloveeee]

Been struggling with mental illness my whole life that I often feel like it’s never going to get better. Accepting that this is something that’s not gonna just go away and I may have to live with for the rest of my life wasn’t easy. But in a way this has been somewhat freeing as this has taught me to stop blaming myself focus on and appreciate the small wins in my life. It’s also important to have supportive people around me. It’s still a battle, but this reminded me that it’s okay to take it one step at a time.

[allegrajane]

You (and i), dear reader, have a chronic condition, whatever it may be called. It is not our fault, and never has been. With support and by keeping life simpler, we CAN make it through and even ENJOY the small things. Don't take on too much, and be extra kind to yourself. This is what 52 years of these challenges have taught me. I love you! ❤

[prettypuff]

I have dealt with severe depression since I was a child. I appreciate this approach very much

[TokyoMakes]

I wish this told us how to accept that our lives are just always going to be more painful and less joyful than others’, and that we need live more but are less likely to find it. THOSE are the struggles of my life as a middle aged person who’s been mentally ill since early childhood. I’ve accepted my limits, but the injustice of it all is what haunts me.

[Booz]

It makes me sad to look back and see how long I have been struggling but I am also grateful that I can empathize with those who are too.
It has been a weird journey, but in a way I wouldn’t change it.
The dark times can be very dark, but it has made me appreciate the beautiful times as well. The people who have stuck by me, I am forever grateful for.

Don’t feel shame, we aren’t alone.
Try to find beauty in the mundane.

[Beyatchenator]

Sometimes the most productive thing to do, is rest. And that's okay ❤❤