But just. The thing is. Mental illness is much more complicated than many people think, or the media portrays.
For example, often people talk about shyness, but as Warren has mentioned above it isn't necessarily social anxiety. Everyone gets a little shy on time to time, some more than others. Most people are able to work through it. Social anxiety on the other hand is intense and in some cases, crippling. It isn't just worrying about a social situation. Worries are going around and around in your head for ages before and then ages after going over the situation and analysing it. You might start to withdraw from social situations entirely. Your entire life is impacted. There's the physical sensations no-one talks about: finding it hard to breathe, wanting to be sick, feeling like you're legs have disappeared, dizziness, sweating, feeling like you might shit yourself, and more. Then sometimes a full blown panic attack.
If you're going to portray a character with mental illness, please do a lot of research on the subject. Proper research. Read stories from the people suffering. Read up on the mental and physical symptoms. Learn about it was a medical perspective as well as a personal one. Don't look to the media for research because as mentioned, it isn't portrayed well.
I second Hammersmith's post here. Think about how your character is managing it, or if they aren't. Depending on circumstances it will slowly leak into every aspect of a person's life . It's called an illness for a reason.
I have so many feelings and things I want to say regarding this thread but I can't put them into words.
For example, often people talk about shyness, but as Warren has mentioned above it isn't necessarily social anxiety. Everyone gets a little shy on time to time, some more than others. Most people are able to work through it. Social anxiety on the other hand is intense and in some cases, crippling. It isn't just worrying about a social situation. Worries are going around and around in your head for ages before and then ages after going over the situation and analysing it. You might start to withdraw from social situations entirely. Your entire life is impacted. There's the physical sensations no-one talks about: finding it hard to breathe, wanting to be sick, feeling like you're legs have disappeared, dizziness, sweating, feeling like you might shit yourself, and more. Then sometimes a full blown panic attack.
If you're going to portray a character with mental illness, please do a lot of research on the subject. Proper research. Read stories from the people suffering. Read up on the mental and physical symptoms. Learn about it was a medical perspective as well as a personal one. Don't look to the media for research because as mentioned, it isn't portrayed well.
I second Hammersmith's post here. Think about how your character is managing it, or if they aren't. Depending on circumstances it will slowly leak into every aspect of a person's life . It's called an illness for a reason.
I have so many feelings and things I want to say regarding this thread but I can't put them into words.
