Living with a mental health condition

If you live with bipolar disorder, PTSD, OCD, schizophrenia or psychosis, an eating disorder, a personality disorder, severe depression or anxiety, or another condition, you may know a special kind of loneliness. You can be surrounded by people and still feel no one understands.

You are not alone in this, even when it feels that way. In the U.S., about 23.1%U.S. adults with any mental illness in the past year (2022)As of December 31, 2022.About 59 million adults, or nearly 1 in 4.Source: National Institute of Mental Health: Mental Illness statistics (from SAMHSA's 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health) of adults had some kind of mental illness in one year. Many of them live full lives, with friends, work, faith and family, and with ups and downs.

This page is not here to diagnose anyone. It is about the social side: stigma, telling people, and finding your people.

Why it can feel so lonely

• Symptoms themselves. Low energy, fear, suspicion, mood swings, rituals or flashbacks can make being with others hard.
• Stigma. Many people still hold wrong ideas about mental illness. You may have been treated unfairly, or you may fear it.
• Self-stigma. You may have started to believe the bad things you've heard, and pull away before anyone can reject you.
• Hospital stays and crises can interrupt school, work and friendships.
• Side effects of some medicines, like tiredness or weight changes, can affect confidence. If side effects bother you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist; don't stop a medicine on your own.
• Money and work. Some conditions make steady work hard, which can mean less money for going out.

None of this is your fault.

A few words on specific conditions

• Bipolar disorder. Highs and lows can strain relationships. Many people find that a steady routine, knowing their early warning signs, and a few people who know those signs help a lot.
• PTSD. Trauma can make people feel unsafe or numb around others, or always on guard. Trauma-focused therapy helps many people. The free PTSD Coach app from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs offers education and coping tools for anyone, veteran or not. Veterans can also see Veterans and military families.
• OCD. Rituals and fears can take hours and be hard to explain. The International OCD Foundation lists more than 200 support groups, including online ones, at iocdf.org (opens in a new tab).
• Schizophrenia and psychosis. These can bring very isolating experiences. Early treatment and steady support make a big difference. Clubhouses (below) were built for people living with serious mental illness.
• Eating disorders. They often thrive on secrecy and can make shared meals stressful. In the U.S., ANAD runs a free helpline (1-888-375-7767, weekdays 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Central) and free peer support groups at anad.org (opens in a new tab). It is not a crisis line.
• Personality disorders. These labels can carry heavy stigma. Many people improve with time and with therapies such as dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), which teaches skills for strong emotions and relationships.

Telling people: whom, when and how

You never owe anyone your diagnosis. Telling is your choice, and you can tell a little or a lot.

Questions to ask yourself first:

• Do I trust this person to be kind and keep it private?
• What do I want from them? Understanding, practical help, or just not having to hide?
• What is the worst likely reaction, and can I handle it?

Ideas that help:

• Start with one safe person, not everyone at once.
• You can talk about what you need instead of the label: "Some weeks my mood drops a lot. If I go quiet, a short text really helps."
• Pick a calm time, not the middle of a crisis.
• Have a short answer ready for people you don't want to tell: "I've had some health stuff, but I'm working on it."
• At work in the U.S., the Americans with Disabilities Act may protect you and give a right to reasonable accommodations. Before you tell an employer, it can help to read up or talk to someone you trust.

Some people will surprise you with kindness. Some may let you down. If someone reacts badly, that says more about what they know than about your worth.

Peer-run groups: people who get it

Peer groups are led by people who live with a mental health condition themselves. They are not therapy, but many people say they are where they first stopped feeling alone. See also Support groups and peer support.

• NAMI Connection Recovery Support Group. Free, confidential groups for adults 18 and over who have had symptoms of a mental health condition. They are led by trained facilitators with lived experience and meet in person or online, depending on your local NAMI. Find your local NAMI through nami.org (opens in a new tab) or the NAMI HelpLine (1-800-950-6264).
• DBSA support groups. The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance has peer-run groups for people living with mood disorders and for their loved ones, in person and online. dbsalliance.org (opens in a new tab)
• Condition-specific groups like the IOCDF and ANAD groups above.

Try a group two or three times before you decide. Groups differ a lot, and the first meeting is usually the hardest.

Clubhouses

A Clubhouse is a community center where adults living with serious mental illness are members, not patients. Members and staff work side by side to run the place: cooking lunch, answering phones, writing a newsletter. Many Clubhouses also run employment programs. Membership is voluntary and has no time limit.

There are more than 380Clubhouses worldwide (Clubhouse International)As of October 9, 2026.Source: Clubhouse International: What Clubhouses Do Clubhouses around the world. Find one through the directory at clubhouse-intl.org (opens in a new tab). Ask the Clubhouse how to join and whether there are any costs.

Other ways to connect

• Peer support specialists work in many clinics and hospitals. Ask your treatment team if one is available.
• Warmlines are often run by peers. See Someone to talk to.
• Activity-based groups like art, gardening, walking or volunteering let you be with people without talking about your health. See Groups, hobbies, classes and clubs.

Keep your care going

Loneliness and a mental health condition can make each other worse, so keeping up with care matters. If treatment isn't working, or you can't afford it, see Getting help. If you are in crisis, see Need to talk right now?