Member-only story
Navigating the Complex Journey of Supporting a Loved One’s Mental Health
Understanding them beyond the surface is how we build powerful connections.
As parents, siblings, or close friends, witnessing someone you love struggle with their mental health can be both confusing and heartbreaking. You might find yourself searching for answers, clinging to diagnoses, or hoping for a simple solution that can alleviate their pain. But what if the answers aren’t as straightforward as we’d like them to be?
I remember when a close friend of mine began experiencing intense anxiety and intrusive thoughts during her teenage years. She was overwhelmed by fears and images that seemed to come out of nowhere. Desperate for answers, she turned to the medical community and was quickly given a diagnosis. At first, this label provided relief — it offered an explanation and a path forward. But over time, it became clear that this medical model didn’t capture the entirety of her experience.
The Limitations of One-Size-Fits-All Diagnoses
The Comfort and Constraint of Labels
Receiving a diagnosis can feel like finding a missing puzzle piece. It gives a name to the struggle and suggests a course of action. However…
