Perspective shifts are painful.

     I've been trying to embrace the notion of treating my mental health in the same terms of my physical health. Well, technically, not "my" physical health. I'm not very good at keeping track of my physical health. I'm struggling with a set of symptoms/problems with no easy answer or diagnosis and it's hard to be diligent and demanding of the medical community to treat me reasonably and effectively. For the sake of this exercise, I'm trying to think of my mental health in the same ways I would encourage others to think of their physical health.
     Now that it's all clear.
     I suffered a relapse of a chronic condition which left me in a state of exhaustion, struggling with insomnia, unable to make new commitments, forced to scale down my usual activities for lack of energy, and generally behind in the majority of my responsibilities. Recovering from this relapse has required that I spend more time resting, allow more time to complete my responsibilities, and accept help from others to maintain the basic functions of my life.
     That sounds so much nicer than: I had a nervous breakdown and am having trouble getting over it.
I know there's a difference in those two perspectives. I know that I hold my personal mental health to a standard I would never apply to others. It's also very hard to make such a significant adjustment to my thinking.
     I grew up thinking that you can do anything if you just point your feet in the right direction and try hard enough. There was no room for the times when the circumstances were insurmountable, though many times in life that's the reality of the situation. Like that time mom got sick and no amount of anything made her better. There was no room for when the things you thought you wanted were so horribly bad for you. I may want to be a social butterfly but I am not by nature and trying to be brings me great distress and anxiety. But all of that is pushed to the side on the face of "Pick yourself up! Walk it off! It will be fine in the morning!"
     Mental health requires care. Some people seem to do it naturally. Some people seem to do it out of enjoyment. Some people seem to need it to remain stable. I would be in that last category. I need to care for my mental health or it will disintegrate into mental ill health. A situation that isn't good for anyone.
     So, my challenge: care for my mental well being in a diligent and effective way. Stop judging the necessity, let go of the "will power" mentality, and move forward in deliberate care.
This is one of those brain processes that requires rewiring. I'm working on it.