Challenging the Negative Stories We Tell Ourselves    

One of my favorite movies that wrestles with the topic of mental health is Silver Linings Playbook, a story of how one man rebuilds his life after a stay in a psychiatric hospital and losing his wife and job. Silver Linings Playbook portrays many aspects of mental health issues such as loss, trauma, and depression with honesty. However, like other romance-dramas it follows a familiar narrative. Our protagonist embarks on a journey toward recovery, and despite setbacks, achieves personal growth and development with the help of a newfound love interest. At the end, the audience is left with the impression the main characters have rebounded from their challenges and found happiness by finding each other.  But in the real world, recovery from mental illness is often a lifelong struggle. Progress can be made and lost, setbacks aren’t always easily overcome, and there’s no finish line or picture-perfect ending. New relationships don’t fix underlying mental health issues. In short, recovery is hard work. Nevertheless, stories remain an important part of how we view the world and our lives. And the narrative we tell ourselves — the inner dialogue we have about who we are — impacts how we interpret and respond to our experiences and effectively cope with life’s challenges. Communicating Through Narratives Our culture is permeated with narratives. All stories — whether they’re romance, adventure, or action — are built on an arc where the struggles, co...
Source: World of Psychology - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Tags: General Self-Help Mindfulness Optimism Self-Talk Source Type: blogs