How to Work Through a Mental/Chronic Illness Diagnosis
You can find a path forward.
Hi there!
My bipolar diagnosis fell on me like an avalanche.Â
I knew little about the condition, but I knew people considered it one of the bad ones, included with the likes of schizophrenia and multiple personality disorder.Â
My knowledge of mental illness was minimal and vague, largely made up of urban legends and portrayals in books or movies. The lack of information immediately filled me with fear. I thought my life was over.
Moving forward felt impossible, but then later, I was hit again.
"Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible."
- Francis of Assisi
Scott Ninneman also publishes the free All Things Bipolar Newsletter (off Substack). The Sunday email features the newest content about bipolar life.
One Diagnosis, Then Another
I was 23 when diagnosed with bipolar. As much as I thought I knew, my wheelhouse of knowledge was that of a typical 23-year-old.Â
I knew nothing.
My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) diagnosis came in my mid-forties. I would love to pretend I was a lot wiser by then, but life experience had taught me a little about living with chronic illness.
With the FMF, the diagnosis was a relief because after decades of suffering, I now had a name for my enemy. Still, with frustrating symptoms including gastroparesis and neuropathy, it was a struggle to maintain a positive outlook.
Receiving a diagnosis is a lot like being dumped in a deep pit.Â
It’s dark, cold, and escape feels impossible. However, as you look around your new home, you see potential tools—a few rocks here and a stick there—and you devise a plan.
With time and effort, you can climb out of any pit. While many chronic illnesses don’t currently have a cure, you can apply the same principle to your care. Look around. Find tools. Get to work.
Take One Step at a Time
With each diagnosis, I started with the necessary.Â
I made sure I was eating healthy food and getting plenty of rest. Then I looked for the possible, little ways I could improve things. Writing a blog and getting a job with a four-day workweek both helped keep my mind stable. When I got those areas under control, I looked for more ways to grow.
Most illnesses have aspects you can control.Â
Even if it’s only managing your nutrition or sleep patterns, those efforts are helpful. As you focus on what you can do, additional opportunities for growth will appear. As you master each possible task, the top of your pit will get closer and closer.
Think today about the possible. Pick an area in your life where you can make a change. Work on that one thing until you master it and then pick another.
Living a full life with mental illness is possible, but you have to focus on the necessary until you can conquer the impossible.
Each of my diagnoses hit me hard, but in time, I learned to live a meaningful life with both of them. You can do the same, but it takes effort and time. You will have setbacks and days that feel impossible, but if you refuse to quit, you will climb out of the pit you’re in.
Take Some Time to Write
Let these writing prompts inspire you to think deeper about climbing out of pits.
Journal Prompt: What are the possible things you can start doing right now? Pick one, and write a plan on how you will pursue it.
Creative Writing Prompt: Your character is trapped in a deep pit. Write a story about how they got there. Do they get out? Does anyone help them? As a bonus, make your character an animal.
Until next time, keep fighting.
Scott Ninneman
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