Who's to Blame for Your Brain's Shenanigans?
Ever feel like your mental health issues came with a tiny, invisible tag that reads "Made by [Insert Troublesome Person/Event Here]"? You're definitely not alone in that feeling! It's a super common, and totally human, reaction when your brain decides to throw a party you didn't RSVP for, complete with anxiety fireworks and depression confetti.
Let's be real: life throws some curveballs. And sometimes, those curveballs aren't just from life; they're launched directly at us by people we know, love, or grew up with. When you're wrestling with stuff like BPD, PTSD, or just a general sense of "Ugh, why me?!", it's only natural to start tracing things back. Was it that childhood trauma? That super-critical relative? The way things just were?
It's like trying to figure out if your computer crash was due to a faulty factory setting (genetics!) or because someone accidentally spilled coffee on the keyboard (life events/trauma!). The truth? It's often a bit of both, a messy blend of your unique brain wiring and all the wild, wonderful, and sometimes really rough stuff that's happened to you.
And hey, let's just get this out there: it's absolutely okay to feel angry, hurt, or wronged. Your feelings are valid. If someone's actions genuinely contributed to your struggles, acknowledging that pain isn't a weakness; it's a step towards understanding your own story.
But here's the kicker, and it's a bit of a tough pill to swallow: While it's important to understand how you got here, getting stuck in the blame game can sometimes be like trying to drive a car forward while only looking in the rearview mirror. You see all the hazards you've passed, but it's hard to navigate the road ahead.
Blaming others can keep us tethered to the past, giving away our power to the very people or events that caused us pain. It keeps the focus on what they did, rather than on what you can do now for your own healing.
Taking responsibility for your own healing doesn't mean you're suddenly excusing past wrongs or saying "It's all my fault!" Not at all! It simply means you're bravely stepping into the driver's seat of your own mental health journey. It's about saying, "Okay, this is where I am. This is what happened. Now, what am I going to do about it to feel better?"
It's a huge shift from "They made me this way" to "I am where I am, and I'm choosing to figure out my path forward." This perspective empowers you to focus on the things you can control: your coping strategies, your boundaries, your support system, and your beautiful, messy, resilient journey towards well-being.
So, acknowledge the past, feel your feelings, but then, with incredible courage, turn your gaze forward. Your healing journey is uniquely yours, and you've got this!
Inspired by the Reddit post:
Do you blame others for your mental health?