A mental health condition doesn’t make someone less valuable. Although therapy and mental health have become more normalized, there is still a stigma attached to them. I think this is because there is a common belief that struggling with mental health is somehow a personal failure, weakness, or fault. This belief seems to perpetuate the idea that people who are struggling are “less than” others. Whether it comes from others or within ourselves, this idea is completely false. ⁣

So why does this idea persist? Well, struggling can make us feel weak and rob us of hope. We can then begin to question and doubt ourselves, wondering if somehow we did something to deserve this. Feeling powerless can do this to us; this is when we are most vulnerable and most in need. This is especially true when it comes to mental health because these struggles are often invisible and experienced in isolation. We need others to reach into our experience and bring the light of hope to our suffering. The stigma surrounding mental health can limit someone from reaching out and receiving this kind of support, leaving them to fend for themselves. ⁣

While it’s true that the decisions we make can exacerbate our struggles, we are not at fault for the conditions themselves. Additionally, without access to adequate care, we only have so many options for coping. In my experience working with clients, most people are trying the best they can. ⁣

These conditions are a form of suffering that plague humanity in our wounded and imperfect state. Yet we must remember that humans are the crown of God’s creation. This means that nothing can truly devalue us at the core of our being. ⁣

You are not your diagnosis. A mental health diagnosis is part of your experience as a human but does not define you. You are much more than your suffering. ⁣

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* The information provided is for self-enrichment and not intended to replace any necessary mental health treatment.⁣

Warmly,

Jonathan Dixon, LMFT
Alpha Omega Team