Newly Diagnosed with a Mental Illness? Take These Steps

Here's what's happening on the HealthyPlace site this week:

• Newly Diagnosed with a Mental Illness? Take These Steps
• From the HealthyPlace Mental Health Blogs
• Most Popular HealthyPlace Articles Shared by Facebook Fans
• Mental Health Quote

Newly Diagnosed with a Mental Illness? Take These Steps

Receiving a new diagnosis of a mental illness or personality disorder can bring a whorl of overwhelming thoughts and emotions. You might be relieved to finally have a name and explanation for what you’ve been experiencing. With that can come fear, confusion, and a laundry list of worries.

As difficult as things probably are right now, there are steps you can take to deal with your new mental illness diagnosis.  

Steps to When You’re Newly Diagnosed with a Mental Illness

Taking action in general is one of the best things you can do to regain a sense of normalcy. Specific steps can include:

• Listening carefully to the doctor who diagnosed you for information about your illness. Take notes, record the conversations, or have a friend or family member accompany you to appointments.
• Finding a therapist. Doctors address symptoms and prescribe medications. Therapists work with you to process problems and create solutions.
• See a family therapist to help everyone successfully adjust and learn how to support each other.
• Research information. Read online articles and books for information.
• Complete workbooks and journals to help you sort things out.
• Be patient with yourself as you learn how to create a quality life with mental illness.

Being newly diagnosed with a mental illness can be frightening, but you can take steps to move forward positively.

Related Articles Dealing with Steps to Take after Receiving a Diagnosis

• Coping with a Diagnosis of Mental Illness
• Adapting to Living with a Psychological Disorder
• Life Before and After the Diagnosis of Mental Illness
• Types of Behavioral and Mental Health Services You May Need
• Questions for Your Mental Health Doctor
• How to Find a Therapist Who is Right for You
• How to Cope with a Loved One’s Mental Illness

Your Thoughts

Today's Question: If you live with mental illness or a personality disorder, what was it like for you when you first were diagnosed? We invite you to participate by sharing your thoughts, experiences, and knowledge on the HealthyPlace Facebook page.

From the HealthyPlace Mental Health Blogs

On all our blogs, your comments and observations are welcomed.

• Stigmatizing Loss: Grief Isn't One Size Fits All
• 3 Ways Hot Showers Relieve My Anxiety
• Emotional Validation in the Face of Mental Illness
• How Accountability Builds Self-Esteem
• Leaving Your Abuser Sometimes Means Forcing Them to Leave You
• My Mom Inspires Me As I Live with Schizoaffective Disorder
• Boundary Issues Can Cause Anxiety
• ADHDers and the Internet: A Love/Hate Relationship
• 5 Books Anxiety Sufferers Should Read Now

Feel free to share your thoughts and comments at the bottom of any blog post. And visit the mental health blogs homepage for the latest posts.

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Most Popular HealthyPlace Articles Shared by Facebook Fans

Here are the top 3 mental health articles HealthyPlace Facebook fans are recommending you read:

1. Three Tips For Getting Out of Bed When You Feel Depressed
2. Coaxing Optimum Mental Illness Support from Your Friends
3. How My Binge Eating Disorder Turned Into Anorexia

If you're not already, I hope you'll join us/like us on Facebook too. There are a lot of wonderful, supportive people there.

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Mental Health Quote

"Depression is like being homesick, but not knowing where home is."

Read more depression quotes.

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That's it for now. If you know of anyone who can benefit from this newsletter or the HealthyPlace.com site, I hope you'll pass this onto them. You can also share the newsletter on any social network (like facebook or stumbleupon) you belong to by clicking the links below. For updates throughout the week, follow HealthyPlace on Twitter or become a fan of HealthyPlace on Facebook. Also, check out HealthyPlace on Instagram, YouTube and Pinterest, where you can share your mental health pins on our Share Your Mental Health Experiences board.

back to: HealthyPlace.com Mental-Health Newsletter Index