Breaking Through the Excuses

Avoiding Getting Help?

Many people avoid getting help for mental illness—and they usually have reasons. Real reasons. But are they true reasons? In this post, I share some of the most common excuses I’ve heard from real conversations. If you’ve ever talked yourself out of seeking help, maybe it’s time to listen to a different voice—the one that says there’s hope.

But the truth is, many people are determined not to get help.

In my last post, I mentioned that I would share some of the excuses I’ve heard people give for avoiding help for mental illness. These aren’t from a formal survey—these are real responses I’ve heard in conversations.

Sample Excuses

Here are just a few of the things I’ve heard:

  • “Well, I don’t feel like this all the time—it comes and goes. Hardly seems worth seeing a doctor.”

  • “I’m afraid to talk to my doctor. I don’t even know what to say. What if they don’t understand?”

  • “Maybe this is just me… maybe this is just how I am.”

  • “I don’t trust doctors. All they do is prescribe pills with all kinds of side effects.”

  • “I don’t like taking pills.”

  • “There’s no way I’m going to help pharmaceutical companies get rich by taking all those pills!”

Men are Unique

And then there’s a whole other set of excuses I tend to hear mostly from men, who respond differently to being depressed than women do.

  • “What will people think? I’m embarrassed for anyone to know I’m like this.”

  • "This seems like a weakness in my character, not my brain. I am so embarrassed."”

  • “What if they send me to therapy and I have to talk about things I don’t want to face?”

  • "I don't believe there is such a thing as mental illness. It is just a weakness in character. Why don't they just get over it?"

    • Therapy Scares Me

    "What if they send me to therapy and I'll have to talk about stuff I don't want to talk about?"

    "I don't believe there is such a thing as mental illness. It is just a weakness in character. Why don't they just get over it?"



    What Will People Think?

    And then always lurking in the background is  STIGMA, which is like a mark of disgrace associated with anyone dealing with mental illness. 

    "What will people think? I don't want anyone to know."


    Do you know why I'm not adding any light humour to this topic? That's because this is serious. Excuses will just prevent you from getting the help that is available.

    So what can we conclude from all of this?

    Excuses are real, in your mind, but they may not be real outside your mind. 

    Mental illness is real. 

    Help is available.
     
    Start with your family doctor. You don't have to have the perfect words. Just start the conversation. What are you waiting for?
    Please don't give up. 
    Don't ignore your symptoms waiting for them to go away. 
    There is a better life with help. 
    Don't give up, there is hope for depression.





    Next time, "what does an orchestra conductor have to do with depression?"

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