Insight into the Life of Someone with Mental Illness - An Interview

This week I was fortunate enough to have a conversation with someone who has a lived experience of mental illness. Anxiety is the most prevalent mental illness in today’s society however conversely can often make one feel that they are alone and misunderstood. The story below is a personal insight into mental illness and recovery and one that many may be able to relate to. Tell me a bit about yourself and your history with anxiety My experience with anxiety began at a very young age; I experienced separation anxiety as a child however I wasn’t aware of it being a ‘problem’ until the age of 14. Around this age I would often become very anxious whenever I felt any abnormal physical sensations – immediately experiencing hypochondria and believing there was something seriously wrong with me, which would often lead to panic attacks.Were there triggers that contributed to the onset of your mental health difficulties? There wasn’t any one particular trigger that caused the onset of my anxiety; it was a build up from my childhood, ongoing family issues and constant worry. I distinctly remember one incidence in which I was at the gym and it was as if the years of worrying had bottled up and were placed onto this experience. I pushed myself too hard; my breathing and heart rate increased and the stress of this led to a panic attack. This is when I knew it was time to get help.Explain a bit about the feelings, thought processes and actions that resulted from your anxiety and how it impacted different aspects of your life.  I would over think and worry a lot; this affected my schoolwork in that I found it difficult to concentrate. I also found myself socially withdrawing from people and isolating myself. My over thinking also began to impact my self-esteem leading to feelings of doubt, negative self-talk and comparing myself to others. Did you want to get help? Yes – the first time I got help it was more due to the physical sensations I experienced as a result of my panic attacks however as I began to realize the causes for these, the treatment became more centered on the anxiety itself.What resources did you draw upon in your recovery journey? I began by seeing my GP who created a mental health care plan for me; this then allowed me to see a psychologist. I saw a number of psychologists on and off for years, some were more helpful than others. I particularly found those who helped me learn mindfulness strategies and work on my core beliefs the most helpful. I was also prescribed medication for anxiety; while this was helpful in the beginning in the long term it did not help me the most. I often spent time with friends and family to distract myself. While I did open up to some people I found that some did not want to take on other peoples problems – particularly those who had their own mental health struggles. Tell me a bit about how mindfulness contributed to your mental health recovery I was first introduced to mindfulness through a psychologist, we discussed techniques and I practiced them during and away from my sessions. I felt like it slowed down my mind, I felt a lot more relaxed, focused, grounded and present in the moment; it particularly helped my over thinking. I still practice mindfulness though I often experiment with different types including hypnosis. I also found that it helped me realize my core beliefs and values, which really helped to centre me in times in which I felt most anxious. I discovered that the more you try to push certain thoughts away the stronger they can become, mindfulness helped me to notice these thoughts and learn how to gently shift my attention elsewhere rather than simply trying to forget their existence.What were the lessons you learnt and the skills you developed throughout this journey? I learnt a lot throughout this experience including the importance of seeking out support (both professionally and personally), communicating with others and being honest with those close to you about what you are going through. I learnt a number of personal skills including meditation, grounding myself and the importance of perspective. Although I still struggle with anxiety I’ve learnt to normalize it and I feel a lot more equipped to handle these feelings, thoughts and sensations when they do arise.Do you have a few words for people struggling with anxiety now? Don’t be afraid to seek out professional support and to follow through with it. I also think it’s important to engage in regular self-care and have a number of different activities throughout your everyday life that you enjoy in order to create a sense of balance. Don’t adopt a ‘be all end all’ mentality and be flexible in your approaches.Disclaimer: This interview is not meant to give advice or to supplement professional help. It is simply to share the experience of one individual throughout their mental health journey. If you believe you may be experiencing mental health problems please seek out professional help. If you are experiencing psychological distress please call lifeline on 13 11 14. If you are in immediate danger please call emergency services (000).