Mental Health Matters: A Look At Coping Strategies For Chronic and Invisible Illness

As “I’m Probably Overthinking This…” is to invisible and chronic illness, “Sketchual Healing” is to positive mental health.

It is almost like my two brands are ying yang’d into the beauty of reality and the care it takes to keep moving forward.

Monday, I discussed my neurodivergence on Sketchual Healing because I wanted others to see why mindful self-care matters for positive mental health. If you haven’t already, you should check it out!

During my therapy session yesterday, that concept was compounded upon. You see, I’m often told that I handle my depression and the stress of my medical issues really well.

Sometimes, I’m told I handle it better than people considered “normal” might handle the same situation. I find this ironic as heck!

I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder immediately after my mom’s death. The irony is that I learned emotion regulation and don’t have bipolar transitions. Actually, my therapist is certain that I do not have either disorder.

I can think objectively during disagreements. Am I perfect? No. However, it is something I do often.

Here is the thing: certain behaviors can be learned behaviors. They might mimic a disorder, like bipolar or BPD, but that doesn’t make them the reality.

My therapist is quite certain that I fall under Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), which presents like bipolar depression, but it is not the same thing.

There is something I often see mentioned on social media, especially when discussing invisible illnesses: just because it isn’t officially named does not make the condition any less real. Living with the symptoms is still that, even if you don’t have an official title for them.

The above image outlines the basics of what I live with. Except for executive dysfunction, each one of those issues has been noted by a professional in one field or another.

Actually, it is important to note that my executive dysfunction is likely a symptom combination of OCPD and anxiety. They sure like to compound on each other!

I am grateful that I have a strong sense of empathy, though. I think that battles some of the more “selfish” aspects of OCPD that I don’t project. I cuss a lot in my head, though.

💡FAQ. Body-Focused Repetitive Behavior (BFRB) disorder is the act of excessive pulling hair, skin picking, or nail biting. Some people pull out all their eyebrow hair, or have bald spots on their head. I do not have fingernails after 35 years of biting/picking off my fingernails. It is a form of OCD.

I have been receiving mental health treatment for almost 13 years. I’ve taken a year of DBT group therapy and learned tons of CBT therapy. I’ve been praised for doing the work to build my mental health, not just showing up and hoping for passive success.

I didn’t like feeling the way I felt. I wanted it to change.

So, yesterday, my therapist told me how proud of me she was. I’ve reached a point where I handle so much with grace and humor. It gets hard, but I skill my way through.

School allows me to feel proud of myself. Blogging about my illnesses enables me to share my struggles. Furthermore, I feel like it might help someone feel less alone. If I succeed in that? Well, let’s just say that makes this battle worth it to me.

Sketchual Healing allows me to find peace in art and share coping skills, too!

Ultimately, I am trying to say that mental health matters.

Skills that combat mental illness are a wonderful resource for chronic illness sufferers. They help you focus your energy and cope with situations that feel, well, overwhelming.

After all, mental and physical health connect naturally. Rarely do I hear about the situation being one or the other.

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At “Angela J. Shupe: Probably Overthinking This…”, I share my lived experience with invisible and chronic illness to remind fellow wellness warriors they’re not alone. My goal is to turn struggle into strength, offering self-care tips, mental health reflections, and wellness insights that encourage balance and resilience. Every post is part of my journey to heal out loud and help others find comfort in community.

An Invisible Illness Self-Care Blog

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