Do you ever feel like nobody takes you seriously?

[Weiland]

Does anyone ever feel like nobody takes them seriously?

I'm just gonna vent, so don't read it if you don't want to.

Okay, so tonight triggered something in me: I was around a bunch of people and immediately felt dizzy, exhausted, paranoid, and anxiety-ridden. I felt like everyone was judging me. Then when I got home, I started to get really angry at nothing. I don't know, I just get really angry when having a panic attack.
Like, then I realised: No one EVER takes me or my problems seriously. I've tried changing my medication that doesn't even change my mood's instability, despite it having to. It screws with my teeth because it's really acidic. It makes me get really sick all the time and even makes me throw up. Just all these side effects. Then when I inquired about it with my psychiatrist, he simply said when I'm having a depressive episode, he'll put me on proper medication. Like, wtf? Medication can take weeks to ****ing work, and God knows what I'll do when I'm depressed. I've done some crazy **** before because I was really hypomanic or really depressed, so it kinda makes me feel as if he doesn't care.
I also realise people are better off without me. I'm constantly ignored, which makes me realise how goddamned annoying I am. I'm so close to just snapping, man. And there's some things I cannot tell a single person due to fear of being judged or hospitalised. It just sucks.
Whenever I try to bring it up with a family member, they get REALLY mad and think I'm looking for attention; that means I have literally no one I can talk to. Not a single soul. Kinda makes me miss the voices I used to hear before this ****ty antipsychotic injection I was put on a couple of years ago. I really wanna be psychotic again because it made me feel powerful and the voices were my only friends.
I digress.

Anyone else relate?

 

[tumut]

they ask you how u are and you just have to say that you're when you're not really fine but you just can't get into it because they just wouldn't understand

 

[Bowie]

My fella used to hear voices and things. His anxiety kinda took over him for a while. What he did was completely isolate himself from people so that he could work on himsel. I'm not sure how much that is helping (it's still going on now) or what other options he has, but just know that you're not alone.

My PMs are always open if you wanna talk like this or vent. You don't have to suffer alone.

 

[dveggs]

I can relate to not being taken seriously. Almost everyone I know pretends to be mentally ill or have anxiety because they think its cute and quirky, and when I, someone diagnosed with depression, anxiety and awful misophonia, call them out, they get defensive and make ME look like the horrible, awful person. Not to mention, when I tell them to stop purposely trying to trigger an episode bc of my misophonia, they outright laugh at me as if its funny, as if I enjoy being agitated and outright agressive all the time. It's so annoying and irritating and I just- ugh.

 

[Alienfish]

Yeah, mostly my parents though. Or they overestimate me as hell which makes things very unserious. Yes I have limits stop pushing me across them in your worst way.

 

[abc123wee]

While on a smaller scale, I get what you mean. I fell a lot that I'm just kind of useless to my friend group, and sometimes I feel they either keep me around out of pity or because I'll be nice to them. But, it never levels onto anything relating to mental illnesses, .So, since my situation is less serious, maybe not trust my opinion:

Maybe you've tried this, but maybe talk to one or two of your friends you feel really close to when you're alone. Same goes with a family member. Tell them how you feel about how you're treated, and sincerely talk to them about it.

 

[kiwi-strawberry]

I know how you feel.. I feel like something is seriously wrong with me but my parent's don't even take me seriously enough to believe me; they tell me it's "normal teenage stuff." It makes me feel so alone, especially considering I have zero friends, not even a single acquaintance due to the social anxiety I know I have, but nobody will believe me. Yes, freaking out, shaking, and wanting to cry whenever I'm around other people my age is definitely, 100% normal. Nothing wrong there! I'm so used to being let down I don't go around other people. There was a point in my life where I went a couple years without seeing anyone outside my family, and I haven't had a single friend in 3+ years.

 

[Corrie]

I look younger than I am so definitely I feel like people don't take me as seriously. Plus I'm a girl so I feel like that helps too.

Problem is, I'm 23 and people think I'm 19 years old. Not too bad but in this age group, even a year older is a big difference in maturity since we're becoming adults. I'm no longer a college student and I'm trying to become an adult and be seen as one but my young face makes that difficult sometimes. Not that I mind looking young, I just don't want people to baby me ahhhh.

 

[Mr. Cat]

Hi! I'm 25, autistic, and I look like I'm 12 years old. Honestly, nobody takes me seriously ever.

 

[visibleghost]

that sux

tbh psychiatry in general is great at never caring or listening because for some reason a lot of mental health professionals think their idea of an illness or issue is more accurate for a patient than the description of the issue an actual person sitting in front of them gives them. like yeah im sure there are many people who experience whatever u are talking about but if someone is like "yeah these are my needs and i have these problems and i need this help" then maybe it's a good idea to listen. idk maybe that's too out there 4 some of them and besides we all know that crazy people can't know anything about themselves and their illness am i right

i hope u can get through this. are you seeing any other mental health professional besides the psychiatrist? obviously ur psychiatrist is the one handling your medication and you need to talk w them about it but u could try telling a psychologist or something that you feel like no one ever takes u seriously. not that that will 100% work bc im sure some people would just be like "aw well let's do some yoga and start thinking positively and try to not hate ourselves and then try talking 2 someone again and then u will realize that this is all in ur head!" But I Mean It's Worth A Try Maybe.

 

[betta]

my parents cause suddenly when you like videogames it means youre still childish to them LOL

 

[honeyblossom]

People as an umbrella term are pretty incapable of experiencing proper empathy unless they can see physical signs of injury. We can easily empathize and sympathize with someone who has lost a limb, has burn scars covering their body, or someone who is having a seizure, but we have a terrible time empathizing with things we can't see. If someone says "I'm experiencing this symptom, which only I can feel", it's human nature for people to disregard it completely. If they can't physically see it or have never experienced it, then they cannot empathize properly. And because there's this disconnect from what they're being told and their ability to empathize, they're very unlikely to sympathize with people who have mental health issues and/or chronic invisible illnesses.

I'm not saying every human is like this, again, I'm using a broad term. There are lots of lovely people who can empathize and sympathize and will and want to help. They're working our crisis hotlines, being great therapists, doctors, nurses, teachers, coaches, and parents. But unfortunately this is not all people, and it's certainly not the majority.

Mental health and chronic illness has been so severely stigmatized and defunded by the American population. And it all comes back to the inability to see any proof. Sure, you can hear voices, or your migraine is making everything the most painful thing you've ever experienced, but for some odd reason, most people don't see this as proof that you're actually suffering.

To these people, the people who think you're lying, the people who think you're making a big deal out of something small, the people who lie about having their own illnesses because they think it's "trendy", the people who intentionally try and trigger an episode in your psychiatric disorder, the people who judge you for your age, your appearance, the way you talk or walk, the things you enjoy, the hobbies you have, the things that bring you happiness, to the people who never take things seriously until it's too late, the people who just think you're trying to get attention, whether they're your parents, your doctor, your best friends, or your partner, they are not treating you fairly, properly, or with dignity.

Everyone deserves to be treated with dignity. Everyone deserves to be taken seriously. Everyone here who feels they are not valid, that's not true. You are.

You're not going to be able to make everyone understand you. You're not even going to be able to make a small portion of the people in your life understand you. Not right now. Not with the way humans have been conditioned to think about mental health and invisible illnesses. Most people will never take you seriously, because the only people they take seriously is themselves.

But you need to know, that you can take yourself seriously. And you can demand people respect you, whether they choose to believe you, or empathize with you or not. If your doctor isn't taking your symptoms seriously, move on. Find one that will. There are doctors out there that will. If your partner does not believe in your problems, then they are never going to truly support you and you need to find someone who not only will but wants to. If your parents refuse to get you the help you need, continue to fight for it and try to find it yourself. If your parents turn a blind eye to your suffering after multiple attempts to try and reason with them, that's what CPS is for. Don't allow your sense of loyalty to let someone abuse you. If someone truly loves you, they will believe you and stand by you, and they'll have your back. And for those of you who don't have anyone like that in their lives, I promise one day you will. I can't tell you when, but eventually they come.

Until then, please never be afraid to reach out to me. I believe every single one of you. I think you're all important, valid, and deserving of sympathy and a friend. I will never be annoyed by your presence in my inbox. I will never feel like you are burdening me. I will never feel like you are lying to me. I will never judge you for anything you have to say. If you are in need of a shoulder to lean on, or just an ear to listen, I will always be here. I genuinely want to help anyone who wants and needs help.

If you are in immediate crisis, here are several wonderful services to help you through:
Wikipedia List of Suicide Prevention Hotlines
Misc. Crisis Numbers and Suicide Hotlines
Crisis Text Line (for those who have phone anxiety)(US only currently)

Please never let the endless wave of cynicism you meet every time you reach out stop you from always trying. It's a war and it always will be. Some battles you win, a lot you don't. But always keep fighting. There are things worth fighting for in life, even if you can't see them right now, if you don't feel like there is anymore. Always keep fighting. Keep moving forward. Keep reaching out. Keep surviving.