- Home
- Forums
- General forums
- Good to know
- "It’s all in your head!": How do you deal with this frustrating comment?
"It’s all in your head!": How do you deal with this frustrating comment?
- 137 views
- 5 times supported
- 11 comments
All comments
Flip5ter
Good advisor
Flip5ter
Last activity on 11/06/2025 at 19:37
Joined in 2024
47 comments posted | 18 in the Good to know group
17 of their responses were helpful to members
Rewards
-
Good Advisor
-
Contributor
-
Explorer
-
Friend
-
Newsfeeder
It's not all in the head but the head can be a factor in the problem, whereby the physical problem causes stress, anxiety or even mental health issues, which in turn can have an adverse effect on the physical problem.
VICKICOFFEY
Good advisor
VICKICOFFEY
Last activity on 11/06/2025 at 18:57
Joined in 2017
158 comments posted | 39 in the Good to know group
24 of their responses were helpful to members
Rewards
-
Good Advisor
-
Contributor
-
Committed
-
Explorer
-
Friend
I a doctor tells me it all in my head, I know my body and its not. I will simply go to another Dr. because I am not comfortable with a Dr telling me nothing is wrong with me, with no testing or explanation. We have to be our own advocates!
ZoeLara
Good advisor
ZoeLara
Last activity on 20/05/2025 at 10:33
Joined in 2015
17 comments posted | 8 in the Good to know group
8 of their responses were helpful to members
Rewards
-
Good Advisor
-
Contributor
-
Explorer
-
Friend
After years of ME/CFS I don't feel I have to explain my health anymore.
So I just say I don't wish to talk about it. It usually added to my frustration when I tried in times past
See the signature
Sheila Mulhall
Close all
See the responses
Tigger.co.uk
Good advisor
Tigger.co.uk
Last activity on 09/06/2025 at 09:45
Joined in 2016
768 comments posted | 100 in the Good to know group
47 of their responses were helpful to members
Rewards
-
Good Advisor
-
Contributor
-
Messenger
-
Committed
-
Explorer
-
Evaluator
@ZoeLara you shouldn't have to explain to anyone about the way you feel you know and that is what counts a lot of illnesses are not shown it's how you feel about yourself, not all illnesses are visible if you feel down then pick up the phone and talk to someone there is always someone that will listen or talk to us on here
See the signature
D M A
Hide the responses
AnOld74
AnOld74
Last activity on 17/03/2025 at 22:22
Joined in 2025
Patient, Prostate cancer since 2025
4 comments posted | 2 in the Good to know group
1 of their responses was helpful to members
Rewards
-
Explorer
The head is an important part of the body. So to say it's all in your head is a ridiculous thing to say. We all just need to be me supporting of each other. Everyone is fighting their own battle.
gmorlet
Good advisor
gmorlet
Last activity on 25/05/2025 at 20:19
Joined in 2024
31 comments posted | 19 in the Good to know group
17 of their responses were helpful to members
Rewards
-
Good Advisor
-
Contributor
-
Explorer
@Somya.P probably relating to the fact that you’re never alone in whatever you’re going through, so you can always find people to relate to
chrissie2018
Good advisor
chrissie2018
Last activity on 03/06/2025 at 23:18
Joined in 2018
59 comments posted | 8 in the Good to know group
33 of their responses were helpful to members
Rewards
-
Good Advisor
-
Contributor
-
Committed
-
Explorer
-
Evaluator
-
Friend
I told my Dad I had depression in my 20's due to personal events and post natal depression due to having my son's. Years later he said he didn't know I had it and said that anti depressants send you round the bend. My Dad also said if I found employment I'd stop being depressed. I am sick of people thinking depression is all in the head as it's not
See the signature
C Newton
Close all
See the responses
Flip5ter
Good advisor
Flip5ter
Last activity on 11/06/2025 at 19:37
Joined in 2024
47 comments posted | 18 in the Good to know group
17 of their responses were helpful to members
Rewards
-
Good Advisor
-
Contributor
-
Explorer
-
Friend
-
Newsfeeder
@chrissie2018 technically it is in the head as it is a mental condition, but with a bit of help and support can be managed and dealt with. I would never decry anyone’s condition, but it does require work by the victim of the depression. Most people that suffer with it (I am not medically trained). Tend to worry too much about trivial things, it requires getting things into perspective, in that what would be the worse case scenario if any of your worries happened. I can virtually guarantee that it wouldn’t be as bad a worrying about the “what if” I am 70 now and have had 2 brief spells of depression in my life. But my doctor gave me great advice the first time, lucky for me it worked. I said I don’t feel like doing anything, I am struggling to cope, he found the trigger to help me get back, and said just do what you want to do. I found that liberating and it got me back on track quickly. Whilst I appreciate simple things like that don’t work for everyone. A trigger can help.
my personal view on anti depressants is that the cloud rational thinking to enable us to get back to normal.
i am not telling you what to do or saying that you aren’t suffering, I am just giving you a possible option as a coping mechanism.
Hide the responses
YorkshireJayne
Good advisor
YorkshireJayne
Last activity on 11/06/2025 at 07:06
Joined in 2021
108 comments posted | 27 in the Good to know group
25 of their responses were helpful to members
Rewards
-
Good Advisor
-
Contributor
-
Messenger
-
Committed
-
Explorer
-
Evaluator
When it's a so called specialist in a problem you absolutely know that you have, including a faulty gene which gives you a higher chance of developing it, it's upsetting. We were raised not to question people in authority, but by gum (as we say in Yorkshire) I fought and fought to get the correct diagnosis and an apology from the NHS.
In 1996, when my spine finally trapped the sciatic nerve and I was rushed to hospital, numb all below the waist, my so called best friend told everyone that I was putting it on! I haven't spoken to her since.
See the signature
Life is for living, do it, no matter what!
lesmal
AmbassadorGood advisor
lesmal
Ambassador
Last activity on 11/06/2025 at 16:24
Joined in 2018
1,482 comments posted | 140 in the Good to know group
71 of their responses were helpful to members
Rewards
-
Good Advisor
-
Contributor
-
Messenger
-
Committed
-
Explorer
-
Evaluator
I've had epilepsy for 51 years and have many other health issues. It's definitely not 'in the head' when I know my body and how each seizure hits and affects my body, muscles and more.
I was bullied at school for having seizures in front of others, but who came out the proudest for continually fighting, advocating and educating... ME!
No one must give me advice on how to make the most of my life as I've learnt to be independent and stick up for myself after all these years!
See the signature
Les
chrissie2018
Good advisor
chrissie2018
Last activity on 03/06/2025 at 23:18
Joined in 2018
59 comments posted | 8 in the Good to know group
33 of their responses were helpful to members
Rewards
-
Good Advisor
-
Contributor
-
Committed
-
Explorer
-
Evaluator
-
Friend
Well lucky you I've had depression over 30 years due to a lot of things happening in my life I wish I didn't suffer with depression and I was bullied at school which is how it started
See the signature
C Newton
Give your opinion
Survey
Articles to discover...
Subscribe
You wish to be notified of new comments
Your subscription has been taken into account
Somya.P
Community managerGood advisor
Somya.P
Community manager
Last activity on 11/06/2025 at 15:57
Joined in 2023
638 comments posted | 197 in the Good to know group
51 of their responses were helpful to members
Rewards
Good Advisor
Contributor
Messenger
Explorer
Friend
Hello everyone! 😊
Many people living with chronic illness have heard the frustrating remark: “It’s all in your head!” This kind of comment can be invalidating, minimizing the symptoms and struggles that come with both visible and invisible illnesses.
Pain and suffering from chronic conditions are very real and deserve to be acknowledged. By sharing our experiences and discussing these challenges, we can help break stereotypes and promote better understanding.
👉 How do you react when someone says this to you?
👉 How do you explain your condition and make others understand your struggles?
👉 What responses or arguments have helped you challenge this misconception?
@Nounou1 @steven elvin @Jmann111 @dennit @pollyj4 @Christina1958 @Rolley @francis @Mulligankaren @jreikimaster @joycet @Peggylea @leosmith317 @jackykins @lar123 @ZoeLara @Scotty 2 @Andy B @Shayman @mr chipps @joejoer @BigMacGregor @bearskin @Hardpillow @laney365 @BrianM @copperbeech @anto65 @fernster @Nanaclaire @jamesm @Razor690 @AmandaK @Marika @millerkaren @Tigger.co.uk @ellesse @Macymac @Bonzo1939 @mjteddy @KPangela @Jonbon31 @kingpaul @Lenniep @Popbabe @mikesalmons @marshy2503 @cupcake1 @Majenta @Cookie62 @Pred.hater @AJWilson @Mogaman @Magi52 @neilcardiff @Mandy59 @bigroscoe @Leanneh @Redsusieq @VICKICOFFEY @hinapar @hockeygoalie @Gillyanna @FARMER3752 @chrissie2018 @Susiek @Susie39 @judahtwo @HannahAitken @Bryanthemercman @Zalena @Braveheart180 @Harrogate26 @NannieAnn @Glyndwr @Folioc @Mich1969 @Ginny1234 @cwright17 @ColinSalter @audieb @Thegardener @Rita14 @Allymal @Elk217015 @Rhinoriggs @marymack @Meltonmark @Flip5ter @gmorlet @lululips @RonTock @SP3RDN4 @Heybex @silaganntee @mickyf @OvaJoy @Ginifer @AnOld74 @Harveymoon
Let’s share our experiences (and some kind but firm comebacks!) to educate and support one another. 💬😊
Looking forward to your thoughts!
Somya from the Carenity team 🌼