When it comes to mental health conversations with friends, many of us can relate to this Ad Council video. Broaching the topic of mental illness with even close friends can be awkward and uncomfortable.
Having a group of supportive friends is great resource to have when battling a mental health disorder. They can take your mind off whatever it is you are going through, yet at the same time, they are there to listen to you. It can be very hard to open up to friends at first, but if they are really your friends they will be understanding. Some may not know how to initiate a conversation about mental health. I’ve been very fortunate to have a committed group of friends, and this is my story of breaking the news of my mental health issues with them and their outpouring of care and love.
Disclosing My OCD
My friends have been very supportive in understanding and listening to my experiences with OCD. When I first started navigating my mental health issue, I opened up to a friend of mine. I was telling him about what I have been experiencing, not knowing yet what I had was OCD. I was very confused and was just looking for some guidance. He was very receptive, giving me his best advice that he could. The advice may not have been very helpful but just talking about how I was feeling made me feel great. As I started to figure out what was going on I realized I had OCD. I kept my friend in the loop of what was going on and he was very supportive of it all. Because he was able to make me feel comfortable I was not afraid to open up to more friends.
I went on to tell a few more close friends my story, every time I felt more and more comfortable. They didn’t look at me like I was crazy like I thought they would. They instead told me that they were always there for me if I need them. Having such a strong support group is one of the main reasons I have improved my OCD.
Want to Help? Listen.
The best thing a friend can do for someone who is suffering from a mental health issue is to just listen. Most of the time people will feel better after just talking about what they have been feeling. Otherwise, these feelings may just bottle up and eventually just make the situation worse. Be a shoulder to lean on when times are tough and I promise you your friend will be forever grateful. Don’t do most of the talking, but let your friend keep talking as it will help them figure things out themselves. This doesn’t mean to not give them any words of encouragement but there is no need to hassle answers out of them if they aren’t comfortable sharing everything yet.
Seek to Understand First
There are some things you should absolutely not do when a friend has disclosed a mental health disorder to you. First, don’t assume anything unless you really understand what your friend is going through. In my case, I faced this a lot. Everyone thinks they know what OCD is but the truth is no one really does unless you’re suffering from it. I don’t wash my hands a million times a day or spend the whole day cleaning room because I need it to be perfect. Instead, most of my suffering is from the inside where no one can see it. So sometimes I feel as people make light of my pain.
Be a Responsible, Confidential Resource
Another thing you shouldn’t do is tell anyone else. Your friend has come to you because they trust you, so don’t break that. Let them decide when the time is right to start telling more people. Of course, if they are at risk of harming themselves or others, then it’s time to tell a professional.
Having the support of your friends can really get you through those tough days. It can be difficult and scary to open up to your friends but just know that they are your friends for a reason. If they think you are crazy then they probably not that great of a friend anyways. Being able to tell a friend is also another step towards fighting against stigma. Being comfortable with having an open conversation about your mental health would be a great step forward.
By: Shaymus Dunn, Anxiety In Teens Contributor