Why do people say mentally ill people are strong?

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Where are the evidence to your claims? I'm not going to search them since I have no time for this, and considering you have been exposed to the evidence you are more likely than anyone else to find the right ones, in a faster time

Other than that I question - if mental illness is not a weakness, why do therapists and other sources such as articles have to work SO hard on proving that claim?
I mean, I literally talked about it with a therapist who is rather a very calculating person and I managed to convince them that it's a weakness in an instant. They gave a nod of approval, and expressed a pained, despaired expression on their face - that they know it's true.
It was actually a moment of weakness for them. I was just throwing it out and they apparently could not help not responding to that. They sounded asserted, so I knew it was a weak spot in their personal lives

A weakness and being weak are 2 separate things. Being mentally ill might be a weakness but I am not weak in any way. Have had a life full of violence, mental abuse and betrayal.

As a 7 year old I witnessed my first suicide. My 14 year old neighbor who threatened me daily with a stiletto to the throat stood in front of me on a 9 floor flat and jumped and landed in front of me. In front of my eyes, he struggled for his life until finally the ambulance came. This was the beginning of a life of much worse events, most triple as bad. Have seen things most people can't even imagine and dream of in their worst nightmares.

My mind is a labyrinth of horror that torments me constantly; bullies me to no end. I fight a war constantly with demons inside my head but I fight back with a flame in my heart the size of a reborn Phoenix and whoever says I am weak is a mere unemphatic cockroach in my eyes and should be ashamed of themselves judging someone who has been through what I have been through.

Will kneel for nobody and always keep fighting. I am proud of who I am and even though I have a weakness, I am strong. Most in my situation would be hanging from a noose.

I hide it well and always seem happy and bubbly because I like making people laugh and happy. Don't want people to feel like I do.

Never judge someone for their scars, respect them. Scars are not a sign of weakness but a sign of strength. I wear them with pride.

Sorry - I'm over 60 and have been a voracious reader all my life, so these are things I simply know. Multiple biographies of both Lincoln and Luther have noted their depression. Luther described it as his "Black Dog" because the term "depression" did not exist at that time. Kay Redfield Jamieson has written her autobiography in which she discusses her own bipolar disorder and its effects on her choice of career, etc.

I cannot imagine what you lived through, seeing an abuser and enemy take their own life in front of you at such a young age. I'm so sorry that happened to you - and that the other horrors did as well....

Scars are a badge of survivorship, and yes, they are to be respected; you endured, and insofar as was possible, healed, at least partway.

And here is Akela, the Lone Wolf, courtesy of Khalliysgraphy at DeviantArt.

Thank you, I needed that.

It's difficult because I never feel a connection with anyone. When you have seen the darkest side of life, you just look at things very differently. Can never show my true side because it scares people intensely and they quickly run for the closest exit. Being on the spectrum enhances this even more. Just imagine never being able to talk about your past, what you feel, think and how you experience life on an equal level.

Even in mental health care, they just say they can't help me because my problems are too complex and co-morbid. You get sent home and you need to take care of it yourself, alone. Angers and saddens me to the core of my existence.

In my life I have helped many suicidal people and people with psychiatric problems. I understand them and that makes it possible to help in a special way. My interest in psychology of course helps a great deal. Quite ironic when you think about it though. Wish I understood myself that well.

Maybe one day I will meet someone who I can be completely open with, someone who isn't scared and accepts me for who I really am, scars and all. Believe they call that hope

And by the gods, what a beauty

Eye to eye with a Wolf like that would be a dream.

First of all, that if amazing, and I applaud you sir. Secondly, I don't think it's ironic at all, I think that people that are bad at understanding themselves can be fantastic at understanding others, I kind of feel that I am vastly better at understanding others than myself as well. Thirdly, I am ashamed that I myself feel depressed even when my life seems to be the exact opposite of yours. Lastly, those mental health professionals are a disgrace, I thought the bare minimum requirement for people in their profession is to be optimistic and supportive if nothing else.

Also, I can't top that wolf picture.

it seems that the discussion I am proposing can be very insensitive to some folks, since the topic is a mighty bold one, as I warned about at the start of the thread. The therapist I met is a strong person, rather a calculating one and I was really surprised she knew how to help me out. They were one of the fewest people I could ever negotiate with. But it seems me arguing the proposed topic in this thread further to the therapist, apparently touched a personal spot in her life
To think of it, if there's something that the experience makes me feel, is that they can't be my therapist - I need a strong person to be my therapist, not someone who can't deal with some bold truths about life

Thank you for the kind words.

Never be ashamed for feeling depressed. People who live a life of luxury and success can be just incapable of feeling happy. Knew a guy like that once, he tried everything. First it was the success, then it was a wife, then it was kids, then it was drugs and other kicks and ultimately he ended up hanging in his garage at 34 years old. The man looked like a god, handsome as can be and he had everything. He just couldn't feel anything no matter what he did. Some people make no serotonin at all and even antidepressants don't have any effect. Literally incapable of feeling many positive emotions and it also creates many other problems. I myself also have this. A lot of people suffer from this and don't even know it.

Everyone fights a battle and all we can do is respect each other; comparing is useless. Your depressed feelings are just as valid as mine.

Have had "professional" help since I was 6 years old. Never, and I mean never, have they ever been any help. They put me full of medication from the young age of 13 years old which damaged my liver severely (fully recovered now) and hid my ASD diagnosis from my mother and me. Found out at age 23 when I moved to a different city and my new doctor saw it on my record. Was like being hit by a sack of bricks. Wish I knew before my puberty at least so I understood why I was so different. But alas. They all did more harm than good.

I like this art:


Art by: StarWolf Legacy

Yeah, that's definitely me, and I have to admit one of my greatest fears is that I will make all the effort like the guy you knew and it won't change anything. I find when older people commit suicide it is particularly sad because that usually indicates they struggled against it for years and years and still failed, but I greatly admire their strength in making such a long effort. I always figured the lack of negative things in my life actually contributed to the apathy, but if you have it as well, then maybe not. Thank you for your understanding.

Can you please talk in private and not derail my thread?
Thank you

I apologize, but it's not a complete derailment. In answer to your original question : Why Do People Say Mentally Ill people Are Strong? The answer is people like LoneLoyalWolf. If you want to go further, you can use me as an example of a mentally ill person who is weak. In any case, I think it should be considered a positive if a thread prompts a back and forth, maybe Wolf's advice will be helpful to someone else as well.

What a beautiful wolf!


Also nice, but sad too. It seems to have been in a lot of fights but still standing strong. Fitting for this thread.

I'm not like the scarred and tough wolf. I easily give up, have always become easily frustrated, and I seem to lose some spoons for every death, set back and burnout I suffer. I'm more of a turtle hiding in my shell. Although I can be very stubborn, it's not always when it would be wise to be.

Anyone can be diagnosed as mentally ill as long as they report symptoms to a psychiatrist that are mildly in line with any disorder on the DSM. There is little ethics left in psychiatry. Over diagnosis is a seriously problem and there are too many people on anti depressants.

I think the stigma aspect is overblown, you would be shocked just how many people are diagnosed with depression, anxiety or SAD. It unbelievable. I haven't met more than three people in the last 12 years that wasn't on at least one medication. The idea about mental illness being considered weak is ridiculous otherwise so many peple wouldn't be heading into the psychiatrists office. Also do you know that here in Canada a Psychiatrist makes more than a Neuro surgeon?

The only stigma is against rarer, seriously mental health disorders. Having Depression is as common as having a cold.

You can't help what you have but I think people say that because life is so much harder but we keep going and trying. Sometimes I think most people couldn't handle it or imagine it even. So that's why I think its stronger people

It's harder than lots of people have and lots of people struggle and they have not m as my problems in life at all with health like compared to some.

I hope that made sense

You made perfect sense

There are always a small few who will think about their situation, fashion a key to the cell, and escape.