If you live with a mental illness, you might be familiar with some of the seemingly “harmless,” but incredibly hurtful things, people often say to those struggling with it.
Sometimes these “harmless” comments come in the form of a pointed question. (Have you taken your meds today?) Sometimes they come with a “solution” via personal anecdote. (Becky used to be depressed all the time, but once she lost weight, her depression totally went away.) Most often, they come from simply misunderstanding mental health struggles. And even though these “harmless” comments may come from a good place, they can often invalidate the struggles of someone living with a mental illness.
When someone with a mental illness opens up about their struggles, oftentimes they aren’t looking for your “solution,” “advice,” opinions, DIY healing guide, etc. — they may just be looking for someone to listen and be there.
We wanted to know what “harmless” comments people with mental illness have heard that actually hurt them, so we asked our mental health community to share one with us and explain what it feels like to hear it.
It’s important to remember what may seem “harmless” to one person may actually be hurtful to another. No matter what anyone says, your feelings are valid, and you deserve support.
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