Tell me the worst mental health advice you've received

[discernment]

Whats the most useless mental health advice that you've ever received?
(from mental health services/family/friends/random strangers on the internet etc...)

I'm not sure if its the worst i've EVER received but I remember calling a crisis mental health service in my country when I was actively suicidal with plans and the professional told me to calm down and have a bath and a cup of tea. I almost laughed

 

[starboy2k]

"just get over it".

 

[TraurigerClown]

Stop whining. A good nights rest fixes anything

 

[0x64]

I was told to man up.

 

[delinquentsandwich]

"pull yourself up by the bootstraps"

 

[Forveleth]

paying any sort of therapist

 

[auti]

Maybe not quite advice but when I was staying in California I had mental health workers tell me that there must be an option for treatment for me where I could still be close to home and I didn't even have the energy to explain to them that's not even remotely true. There's no intensive treatment for hours and hours from where I live. I've already used up what limited options I had. In my entire state there's only one intensive program and I already tried it.

 

[lastappleonearth]

Whats the most useless mental health advice that you've ever received?
(from mental health services/family/friends/random strangers on the internet etc...)

I'm not sure if its the worst i've EVER received but I remember calling a crisis mental health service in my country when I was actively suicidal with plans and the professional told me to calm down and have a bath and a cup of tea. I almost laughed

"Just smile more, be happier" was told this because the person didn't like the expression on my face I guess, because it brought them down and spread "negative vibes" in their words

 

[GodzillasBiggestFan]

"if you're getting bullied, try being more normal"

"you have to want help to get better"

"you just have to have hope"

"don't let it stop you just keep going no matter what"

 

[Aren]

Whats the most useless mental health advice that you've ever received?
(from mental health services/family/friends/random strangers on the internet etc...)

I'm not sure if its the worst i've EVER received but I remember calling a crisis mental health service in my country when I was actively suicidal with plans and the professional told me to calm down and have a bath and a cup of tea. I almost laughed

"Be angry" (psychiatrist) "It's not relevant to call us anymore" (emergency number for suicidal thoughts).

I mean, i think i'll meet these people in hell later for giving me such advise and not helping me but reject me while they know i'm going to ctb.

 

[NamelessEntity]

I have PTSD and was told to just not think bad thoughts and that it's not a real disorder.

 

[rainatthebusstop]

got asked if I have considered birthing a kid so I'd have something to live for. I could only stare at that person because they revealed to me then and there that they are a fucking idiot

 

[ilovecats1]

"just start doing stuff"

 

[limenlux]

"Have another drink."

(I declined.)

 

[thelostautistic]

When I was 19 I was told by the crisis team "you're 19 years old you need to deal with your problems" I was also told by another crisis worker to "just get a grip". Bear in mind I was dealing with undiagnosed Autism at the time. If I worked in that role I would never speak to someone in a crisis that way. I'll never forget those disgusting individuals.

 

[Le temps perdu]

"Don't overthink it. Just get a job. You'll be too busy to think about all this."

someone invalidated my feelings and said that bullshit (alright you win)

 

[DeathWish.]

" you're just not close to god " or " you dont pray enough thats why youre depressed "
I mean, what could be worse that that

 

[Pluto]

 

[ShiroNoKitsune]

"It never gets better, you just learn to live with it"

"Fake it until you make it"

 

[discernment]

"just get over it".

Stop whining. A good nights rest fixes anything

"pull yourself up by the bootstraps"

I've definitely experienced a lot of similar dismissive sentiments over the years I'm not sure why anyone would think saying things like this are helpful on any level

I was told to man up.

Thats awful, i'm really sorry. Not something i've ever been told as a woman but I think these sort of harmful stereotypical assumptions that men should always be strong, and men shouldn't cry etc are a big part of why men don't speak about their mental health

 

[DeathSweetDeath]

Yeah, not advice, but I was asked if I was fostering any new kittens and if I wanted to get a new cat, because "it would be good to have something to take care of". Smh, the only thing I want to take care of now is my CTB plan.

 

[discernment]

"if you're getting bullied, try being more normal"

"you have to want help to get better"

"you just have to have hope"

"don't let it stop you just keep going no matter what"

I'm sorry that they blamed you for things that were totally out of your control

 

[ctb_warrior]

Whats the most useless mental health advice that you've ever received?
(from mental health services/family/friends/random strangers on the internet etc...)

I'm not sure if its the worst i've EVER received but I remember calling a crisis mental health service in my country when I was actively suicidal with plans and the professional told me to calm down and have a bath and a cup of tea. I almost laughed

"Don't worry"
As if these 2 magic words will take away all the pain
A 22 year experienced psychiatrist told me last to last week to join a hobby group or to make new friends when I was not even liking to talk to my existing close friends why will someone who wants to ctb feel like joining a hobby group and to make new friends.


Another psychiatrist, told me to get a job. I got a job.. But i was on leave and they wanted me to produce a medical certificate that I am fit to join. That idiot psychiatrist wrote on the medical certificate that i go through major depressive disorder with alcohol use and I'm fit to work
It's like telling someone that I have bought nembutal and I'll not ctb

 

[Rev346]

"Ill pray for you" and "have you considered that your back pain is all in your head?"
1- I always respond with "praying is like masturbating, it feels good for the person doing it but does nothing to the person you think about"
2- I was so close to punching the doctor, a pain specialist, in the face and telling him "have you considered that the pain in your face is all in your head"

 

[dearn]

« Just do squats »
I suffer from eating disorder and had a huge crisis and was just super anxious and they told me « okay make squats rn if u feel this way ».

 

[SHUGAARRR!]

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Yeah, like not thinking about the bad is gonna do shit about any of it.

 

[+lostdog+]

i broke down for the first time when i was 13 over a huge loss to my family that took place years prior. it was at my therapists office, and i remember that she said "you should probably kill yourself."
i was so baffled and confused that i stopped crying lol

 

[limenlux]

I've already replied, but I was told earlier today that there was "no use worrying about" being desperately ill and homeless.

 

[lonely_potato]

Whats the most useless mental health advice that you've ever received?
(from mental health services/family/friends/random strangers on the internet etc...)

I'm not sure if its the worst i've EVER received but I remember calling a crisis mental health service in my country when I was actively suicidal with plans and the professional told me to calm down and have a bath and a cup of tea. I almost laughed

Oh my god. Crisis support are so hit or miss, that's awful.

I think, the worst was when I called a "friend" to tell him I was suicidal, and he just prayed for me not to go to hell if I did end up dying.

 

[Brouzouf]

"Go out and meet people" as if somehow this would help me