Pain is not a disease

In a blog post I wrote a few years back, I expressed my belief that depression should not be seen as a disease.

I argued because, having battled depression and anxiety for the majority of my life, I was beginning to witness positive outcomes from extensive self-improvement efforts with the guidance of a therapist. With my condition improving, I reached the conclusion that the issues troubling me could not be classified as an illness.

Even though I had finished three university degrees and had a full-time job that I found exciting, I needed help as I encountered difficulties with simple tasks. The idea of picking up unfamiliar calls, handling difficult clients during meetings, and just the prospect of going to work every day caused me anxiety.

As I neared 30, I was concerned about the possibility of messing up, making errors, feeling inadequate, or lacking sufficient creativity. I frequently found myself consumed with anxiety, envisioning potential mishaps and fearing my inability to handle unforeseen circumstances.

It wasn't clear to me why I was struggling so much until I began therapy with a professional who could help me comprehend the reasons behind my emotions. This therapist guided me in realizing that the anxiety and distress I was experiencing were typical responses to being raised in an unhealthy setting and that it's natural to face difficulties after enduring hardship or trauma.

Discovering that my emotions and feelings were a natural reaction to the trauma I had experienced brought me immense relief. I came to understand that my struggles were not solely rooted in depression and anxiety as I had believed, but rather in the challenges I had faced and needed to overcome. Armed with the necessary tools, I was finally able to address my anxiety and confront my difficulties.

Realizing that feeling bad was a natural reaction to my situation marked a significant shift in my journey of self-discovery. I came to understand that pain is not an illness but rather a signal that something is amiss. Mental and emotional suffering can stem from various sources, ranging from clinical depression to the aftermath of challenging experiences or traumas, as well as physical conditions impacting mental well-being.

I strongly advocate for a revision of the language and terminology surrounding mental or emotional distress to acknowledge that the root causes of such challenges vary from person to person. It was a significant shift for me to realize that my emotions were triggered by factors other than just a malfunction in my brain.

Thankfully, I received assistance for the issues that were troubling me. With the support of skilled counsellors, I managed to reduce the anxiety I was experiencing to a manageable level. Additionally, I learned to address the trauma I had endured by releasing past painful emotions and memories for proper processing.

I am extremely thankful for the assistance I received back then, as it set me on the path to self-development, which I consider a lifelong endeavour. The efforts I have put in so far have resulted in me feeling significantly better every day and having complete faith in my ability to tackle the challenges that come my way in the present moment. Through all the dedication I have shown, I have transformed into a wholly changed individual compared to when I embarked on this journey towards healing.