Speak the Evil

See no evil, hear no evil, and speak no evil. And in case you were wondering, the proverbial “evil” would be my dormant mental health issues.   Growing up in an upper-class family in Des Moines, Iowa, mental health was an afterthought — sandwiched in between tennis matches, gawky Homecoming dance photos, and college football Saturdays. While I struggled with perfectionism (presaging a later struggle with OCD), my mother glossed over my mental rigidity.   “You just have high standards, Matthew,” she soothingly reassured to me and — perhaps — herself. See no evil, hear no evil, and speak no evil. And, honestly, I understand and empathize with my beloved mother. You see — talking about mental health is uncomfortable. I finally disclosed my mental health struggles — the tormenting thoughts, the depressive malaise — to my parents while in college. Stammering and stumbling, the conversation resembled Rick Perry during his ill-fated 2011 debate. And just like the esteemed Perry, it was tempting to mutter “oops” after my fumbling self-disclosure. Like many self-conscious teenagers, I sought parental affirmation. How would they react? Would they openly acknowledge my mental health struggles or distance themselves in stony silence? The answer: a steely acceptance. While my mother could not understand my mind’s tumult, she — the ever-pragmatic matriarch — discussed testing accommodations and counseling appointments. My...
Source: World of Psychology - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Tags: Anxiety and Panic Depression Family Friends Grief and Loss Mental Health and Wellness OCD Personal Stigma Disclosure family support Mental Illness Mood Disorder parental invalidation Talking To Parents Source Type: blogs