Mental Illness Can Damage Both The Brain And The Body

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By Avion Anderson

Mental illness can not only damage the brain, but also the body, even though most would say that one may be able to cure the mind from mental disorders. In reality, damage happens, even when you take as much medication as the doctor prescribed and go to your treatments on a regular basis or as often as appointed.

One’s mind is never cured of their mental illness, as there’s always a relapse.

It also leaves body scars which have been inflicted through self-harm, self-injury and self-mutilation on the body. These will always remain — unless one is rich and can afford laser surgery, then all good.

But in reality the damage has already been done.

The Strength To Move On

Those who are living with one or a multiple of mental disorders and illnesses, can be overwhelmed. They doubt themselves repeatedly, lack the motivation, lost of energy.

The amount of suicidal thoughts clouds one’s thinking and makes one want to throw in the towel. Like me, who has to fight each and every day, against all odds, to never give up.

I would also scream at myself whenever I looked in the mirror and out loud in my bedroom. I would scream positive words into being, especially when those suicidal thoughts snuck up on me. It’s a fight of good over evil, a fight of wanting to live and not die, even when my mind is begging me to give up. But the heart is telling to push on forward, giving me the strength to go on and move on with my life.

I Use Yoga and Meditation

Unlike most sufferers with mental illnesses, I have refused to take any form or type of medication. I hate medication, as well as that I have a fear of them due to their side effects, since I am already gaining weight without taking any medication.

I want to lose some pounds, and since starting some of my yoga poses which I have embarked on doing they are so hard to do right now, and my bones and muscles hurts more than anything else. I’ve taken up the seven (7) days yoga and meditation challenge and I have to go through with it and see it out to the end.

We Are More

Apart from the side effects and my phobia of taking medication, I believe that we are more than just a pill, more than just a chemical imbalance. We are fighters and not quitters, we never give up. Despite the numerous obstacles, trials and tribulations we will not allow our mental disorder to keep us in darkness forever. We fight on for our dear lives, holding on to faith and hope, and growing from strength to strength. The pains and turbulence which mental illness causes might damage the brain and body for now. But the journey to recovery is far from over, and we will succeed.

Reproduced with permission, originally posted on avionneslegacy