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Mental illness does not exist

AnneMargaret

One of my older brothers does not believe in mental illnesses or doctors. Today he has had a go at me swearing shouting and doing "mental" actions towards me. All because i asked his wife about something she didn't like and she went snitching so to speak. I didn't realise i had said anything offensive. But i have been sobbing and now have thoughts of self harm again. I know that won't solve anything but i just feel so low. I expect i won't hear or see him for weeks now. He needs to accept my problems. I'm sick of discrimination.

Parents

  • Hello AnneMargaret,

    I am really sorry to read of your difficulties.  And you are right - self-harm is often very understandable when it happens, but it doesn't help.

    Your older brother, you say, does not believe in mental illness (or doctors).  He's not the only one - there are quite a few of them about though, fortunately, fewer than there used to be.  If those are really his beliefs, he is the one who is mistaken here, not you.

    Or could this be a sibling/family thing, to some extent?  Brothers and sisters are not always the most supportive of people, full stop. And that is sometimes - but not always - because they are the ones who take a lot of flak(are given a hard time) over the behaviours which are seen to be a problem.

    You asked a question which seemed a reasonable question to you, but your brother's wife didn't like it and maybe she had a 'go' at him because of it?

    It doesn't make it your fault, even if that's true.  It does suggest that you are in circumstances around at least one member of the family which are not helpful to you.  Is there someone else you can talk to?  Do you belong to any support groups, or anything like that?

    There's not very much that I can do, but I will certainly try to listen if there is more that you would like to say, to get off your chest.

    Warmest best wishes to you

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  • Hello AnneMargaret,

    I am really sorry to read of your difficulties.  And you are right - self-harm is often very understandable when it happens, but it doesn't help.

    Your older brother, you say, does not believe in mental illness (or doctors).  He's not the only one - there are quite a few of them about though, fortunately, fewer than there used to be.  If those are really his beliefs, he is the one who is mistaken here, not you.

    Or could this be a sibling/family thing, to some extent?  Brothers and sisters are not always the most supportive of people, full stop. And that is sometimes - but not always - because they are the ones who take a lot of flak(are given a hard time) over the behaviours which are seen to be a problem.

    You asked a question which seemed a reasonable question to you, but your brother's wife didn't like it and maybe she had a 'go' at him because of it?

    It doesn't make it your fault, even if that's true.  It does suggest that you are in circumstances around at least one member of the family which are not helpful to you.  Is there someone else you can talk to?  Do you belong to any support groups, or anything like that?

    There's not very much that I can do, but I will certainly try to listen if there is more that you would like to say, to get off your chest.

    Warmest best wishes to you

Children
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