Interpersonal Skills Stack Exchange
Interpersonal Skills Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [mental-health]

For questions about interpersonal skills where mental health issues play a significant role, and that do not require professional help to resolve.

Situations involving mental health issues often require a different approach. Use this tag to indicate that your question involves a mental health issue of you or others.

However, please note that questions that would require a mental health professional to address properly are considered off-topic. Instead, please contact mental health professionals in your area, as they will be best suited to help you.

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9 answers

How to politely deflect questions about awkward scars?

Content warning: Self-harm Due to some issues I had a few years ago with self harming (related to mental health issues which I no longer have - hurrah!), I'm left with a lot of awkward scars on my forearm. They're visible whenever I'm not wearing…
Matt
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3 answers

How do I talk to my wife about unrealistic expectations?

I have been married less than a year and we are both quite young, which is partly why I'm posting on here for advice. My wife has recently been 'complaining' that she finds it difficult that she can't buy many nice things or go on holidays as often…
Onux
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11 answers

How to avoid answering "what were you sick with"?

I have been on "sick leave" for a little more than a week due to mental health issues. I'm now back to work and my coworkers are asking "did you have the flu?" or other questions like that. I know they are just trying to be nice by inquiring about…
Ael
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3 answers

Telling my mother that I have anorexia without panicking her

I have a lot of (mental) health issues and I know my mother is often worried about me. One of the things that worry her is how poorly I eat (I told her that I basically eat the same thing at every dinner). I just recently realized that I have…
Ael
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34
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6 answers

How can I have a conversation with my fiancé about a subject he doesn't want to talk about?

My fiancé has a bit of a troubled history. I knew that when we got together. He has some mental issues, which I attributed to years of being bullied. Only recently I managed to figure out the main cause. He experienced something extremely…
Belle
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3 answers

How do I tell therapist that something is a big issue to me, even though culturally it's not?

Something relationship/sex -related happened to me half a year ago, and since I still haven't recovered, I have decided to seek professional help. I have very different background than people in this country, and I have never been in therapy, so I…
Boat
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2 answers

Bringing up mental illness to dates?

I have bipolar disorder. It is under control, but I read that my children might inherit it and my medicines might affect unborn children. But, I'd like to get married and have children. After starting the treatment, I stopped dating. Now, I'd like…
user2107
19
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2 answers

How can I communicate to my mother that her complaints about me make me feel like I'm not enough?

(and never will be) I'm on the autism spectrum and often feel overwhelmingly fatigued and tired. My mother, on the other hand, has a lot of energy and is always doing a million things. From time to time, my mother will complain that: You never do…
Ael
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5 answers

How can I help a close person that is toxic seek professional help?

The person I'm talking about is my own mother. She has depression and she's seeing a doctor. It is a little rough talking about your own kind like this, but as rough as it is, it's the truth. My mother raised me and my sisters by herself, after my…
Andre Aquiles
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17
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2 answers

How to tell my alcoholic aunt I fear for my cousins' lives because of her drunk-driving?

Content warning: Alcoholism, physical and psychological violence. My cousin just called me in tears. Again. She shared her fears with me about her parents drinking too much, even when they have to drive. She wanted to know what she could do to…
avazula
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2 answers

How to detect and counteract gaslighting

Gaslighting is one of those things that becomes a logical trap for both the abused (they can look deluded, without physical evidence, which can lead to further manipulation) and also for a falsely-accused abuser (“I’m not gaslighting you!” is…
TheProseMix
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15
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4 answers

How do I tell my parents I don't enjoy their company?

I moved to a new country (Canada) for university about a year ago. I am doing well in my studies. I'm not so well mentally but that's always been an issue even back home. My parents often come to visit and want to stay for about 2-3 months (which…
BoomShakalaka
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4 answers

How to ask my mother to stop giving me unsolicited (health related) advices?

I have a lot of mental health issues and my mother tends to think that fixing my life is her duty. As such, she will often give me unsolicited health advice so that I could get "better". She would tell me "do more sport", "go to bed earlier", "eat…
Ael
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3 answers

How to respond to self-deprecating remarks

I have a few friends who will try to manipulate me with self deprecating remarks. Perhaps I've been helping them with something for a while and am obviously making moves to leave when they say something like: "Oh I am sorry, I'm such a burden, I'm…
Lio Elbammalf
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13
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When is it appropriate to mention someone else's suicide attempt?

So, earlier today my friend and classmate attempted suicide. He's in the hospital right now and will probably be okay, but I dread the next time he'll come to college. I know there are triggers and we need to avoid them, but I do not know WHAT those…
FFN
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