Mental illness feels like a claustrophobic trapped in a crawl space. The solution is the same…
Many of our fans here in the Millennial Spark fan club can relate to the common struggles that come with mental illness. It’s a real and raw conversation that many of our fans can relate with one another. And not so much as mental health struggles within themselves, but rather the discomfort that accompanies any pain in life (such as finding our life’s purpose, conveying self-expression, and more). Mental illness just so happens to be one of those discomforts. But a key opportunity is finding the ability to master the pain of mental illness. In other words, using our pain for a positive purpose. If you can overcome the pain of mental illness, then you can overcome anything. Yes, facing physical trauma (such as a car accident, etc) is devastating. But that’s only part of the battle. There’s also pain that follows the trauma. It can be in the form of PTSD and dissociative episodes. But don’t worry — there is a purpose in our pain. And to turn our agonizing pain of mental illness into purpose is among the most effective skills we can apply. We turn lemons into lemonade. We see the silver lining. Remember: Strong adversity leads to an even better opportunity. Growing closer to God’s heart amongst our trials is a great opportunity. To do such makes you unbreakable…
Who is in more pain? Someone who accidentally cuts themself or someone who intentionally cuts themself?
The correlation between physical and emotional pain isn’t so distant. At the same time, you see a strange phenomenon of people using physical pain to escape emotional pain. Make no mistake: The pain of mental illness is real. And it’s far more prevalent than our society may claim. Let’s keep in mind that pain from mental illness is subjective. In other words, it regards both inner feelings and personal experiences rather than external facts. Just because you don’t see someone else’s pain doesn’t mean they’re not in pain. The key here is to humble ourselves. There is far more going on in other people’s lives than we care to notice. There’s far more going on in the world than we care to watch. Again, mental health is subjective.
But with everything said, there’s a good side to mental health struggles. Two reasons, specifically. The first is radical acceptance: to find contentment in whatever place you are in life. It’s similar to a claustrophobic being stuck in a crawl space. To be in such a discomforting situation gives you a choice between tolerating the pain or staying miserable. In the case of the claustrophobic, it’s to find peace within the moment. Yes, you’re in an uncomfortable place. At the same time, know that this moment of discomfort will pass. There is life beyond our struggle… A common quote that many people use for self-soothing is, “It’s okay to not be okay”. This discovery produces a sense of self-reliance and confidence. Your well-being and quality of life don’t hinge on the support of others. Nor do you need lots of money and lots of stuff. There is joy within this moment. All we have to do is pay attention. Yes, there is intense pain and discomfort. But there is also growing stronger. You’ll be ready for the next trials of life.
Secondly, finding a solution for mental illness allows for creative thinking. We’re forced to find answers when something held sacred is about to break. In the case of mental health, the “something” at risk is our quality of life. In some cases, it’s life itself. The search for an unconventional way requires patience and acceptance of the moment — let alone the burden of walking the unconventional road itself…
The symptoms themselves are a problem. But perhaps the worst of it is the stigma and stereotypical expectations of society. Society says, “Get over your mental illness and stop complaining about your symptoms.” Ironically enough, this is an insinuation that never works. Nonetheless, the world keeps saying it. Such is the definition of insanity.
Above all, may we find peace among extreme discomfort. There are times when we are limited and in pain. But God sees our suffering. He knows our limits and sees our pain. We can rest assured that He carries the weight of our life’s purpose and salvation. The goodness of God is evident in His deep desire to bear our heaviest burdens. God was willing to suffer a gruesome death for the sake of spending eternity loving the people who abandoned Him. God willingly faced the suffering of hell itself. He endured the loneliness when the walls were caving in. In doing so, we can keep our life eternal. May we find peace in those times when the walls cave in. Always remember: It’s okay to not be okay.
