Is Mental Illness Curable? 

This is the best analogy on mental illness that I’ve ever heard. It made something that I live with everyday make sense in the simplest term, for the first time ever. Thank you once again for such quality, helpful content, Katie!! We love all you do for us ❤️

Thank you for all of your hard work! We love you Katie!

I’m a little confused on the statement about mental illnesses can’t be cured but in the neuroplasticity explanation, it almost sounds like it is contradicting the original statement. From my experience, and what I understand of my diagnosis of bipolar disorder, I can re-wire my thought processes to help me in stabilizing my mood, to be at and maintain baseline. I may have periods of stability, but regardless of what mood zone I’m in, I will always have bipolar disorder, even if my symptoms are not evident

I ended up smoking heroin in my late 20’s for a whole year because of my depression and anxiety. I’ve been 8 months clean now and going to treatment. Finally agreed to antidepressants a month ago. Unfortunately, I had completely lost my mind and therefore I lost everything else. It’s been hard but my therapist told me about the plasticity thing. He explained it like two freeways. When I started using heroin I plowed a new highway through, now that I’m off, I have to go and re-plow my old freeway that had filled in (with weeds and plants). It’s been a hard road but I’m sticking to it.

This reminds me of Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar where she says depression is like a bell jar that always hangs over your head

Kati, why do I feel an enormous empathy for animals? One day I saw a little cat and I couldn't take her home and, after half of the year, I still feel terrible that I left her.. I cry over the movie of the animal, but not people and also I love them more that people sometimes.. Why is this?

Kati how can I make myself to study, I know how important it is, but I just can't.. I'm too lazy and I just can't.. Pls help

Me: hears *“welcome”!* Me: clicks like button

I'm so thankful for your videos. You make me not feel so crazy. I have depression, anxiety, Bpd, Ptsd and an eating disorder and watching your videos really help me learn more about myself

I was diagnosed with depression, but I feel fine now

Can you do a video about animals improving a person's mental health?

Mental health is curable, I suffered for 15 years and no longer do. I had bipolar disorder. One day I decided I do not have it anymore. Everything changed for the better. My story, not everyone is as “lucky”.

Kati, with all due respect, as a psychologist I truly worry about the message in this video. People experience many different mental illnesses and experience them for many different reasons. Adjustment disorders *do* remit. People *do* experience single episode depressive disorders. People experience acute stress reactions and acute/brief psychotic episodes that are *not* “incurable.” Each person’s situation is unique and they should consult with their local psychologist and/or psychiatrist with questions regarding their own unique situation/illness/diagnosis and treatment plan. I do think we can all agree though that promoting mental health and wellness is a step from which everyone can benefit.

Contradicting video

Great video! Mental illness, suicide awareness and sobriety is everything! Videos like this remind us we are not alone! Definitely motivated me with my channel and vids! Awareness is everything and so is support!

Thank you for answering this question! Very informative

I agree with the proposition that mental illness is Not curable for the most part. I do not believe that this is always true, however. Certain mental illnesses can be brought on from environmental factors, diet, or lack of self care. Less genetic mental illnesses on an individual level, may be curable. For example, I had depression and many other issues. I found out a few years back, that I was allergic to dust mites, (and was meanwhile, working in an office that had massive quantities of paper dust blowing around), had two autoimmune diseases, and was also diagnosed on the autism spectrum more recently. Previously, I was diagnosed bi-polar II and with OCD. Once I figured out how to treat my autoimmune issues and had my dust mite allergies under control, I stopped having symptoms of mental illness. I also personally, do not see autism spectrum conditions as mental illness, so I feel as though, as long as I follow my protocol I have established, that I will have likely 'cured' my mental illness. Thoughts? Maybe curable among certain occasions?

Could you talk about shutting down and shutting out possibly? I know that even if i know some people want to help me i will shut them out, of when im going through something hard i will shut down, even when im feeling fine. What do I do!?

People who pick at their skin and their face constantly. How the heck do you stop because im starting to look like a crack head and i don't even do crack and i can't stop. I look like im trying to paper mache my face after a picking fest

IM SO EXCITED!!!!! IVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS!! AHHH THANK YOU!!!!!

Love this topic. Thanks for sharing it!!❤❤😊🙌

Thank you for the neuroplasticity part! It reminds me that no matter our age, there's hope. This video goes to my favs! Btw, can you talk about dysthymia?

Thank you so much! This gave me a lot of hope and clarity over a question I've had for years. When I first heard the term 'mental illness', it scared me because it sounded permanent and essentially unchangeable. Perhaps you could make it better, but you'd never 'come out of it'. It was when I read about neuroplasticity a while ago that I realized there was real hope for long-term change, and it affirmed the value of therapy and learning new thought patterns. I've never heard the balloon analogy! I've always likened it to paths in a forest; continual use packs the dirt and keeps the path, but if you chop a new path through the forest, it'll grow while trees grow back in the old unused path. Your analogy using the cold finally put into words what I'd begun to theorize lately, 'mental illness' is an illness in the sense that a cold is an illness. One can't be 'cured' in the sense that once it goes away, it'll never, ever come back, but that's just like the cold! If you heal up from it, and then take care of your health, you'll be far less likely to experience it again, and likely not as bad, since you learned the signs and treatments the last time. It makes me realize anyone can experience mental illness, and that we all do from time to time, which really normalizes it, and also then tells me, that even though some may experience it more severely than others, we all can do something to heal up from it and get to a place of mental health! Thanks again! I love your channel and what you do!

I sort of get your point, sort of not. I suffered from social anxiety for a year and a half, and last April I recovered. I no longer suffer from any of its symptoms, my brain no longer thinks the way it did. Yes, I occasionally have nervous moments, but it’s the healthy kind, normal kind. Hence I say I’m cured from my mental illness.

I got notification from twitter before youtube lol

I've battled my depression and anxiety since my teens, I finally got help in my thirties. As my body ages, changes, my illnesses is getting worse, so no I didn't think it will be cured. The reason is because I was diagnosed so late in life and I suffered too long.

I have mental illness.signs of 1.social withdrawal 2.fear 3.trembling 4.overbreathing 5.fast heartbeat 6.nervous 7.absent mind 8.eating fast 9.slurred speech 10.avoiding others 11.oversleep. 12.anxiety. 13.rotating eyes 14.walk slowly.All people's avoiding me to mental illness.please tell the treatment.

It's not curable but recovery is almost always possibly to the point of being fully functional in your every day.

Can you make a video about executive dysfunction?

I have found that many people who advocate and support mental health still believe its not something for them. Its almost as though they believe its importance enough to champion it but NOT enough to apply it to their own lives. I guess its one baby step at time because 10 years ago people didn't even respect mental health as much so at least we are moving forward. I was just wondering if you guys agree and have seen this as well?

I believe it can be cured. Healing yourself and training your mind is the answer. Not letting your mind run you... run your mind. Train the mind😇

Anything can be cured through faith, follow not ur heart or even the thoughts n things that betrayed u in your mind, time heals so be patient and endure and Believe through all the storms that y are strong. The human spirt, mind, and body was made to go thru anything and prevail, the world has many lies but the truth will never switch up, we are all blessed no matter how cursed society and the world is. LIVE AND SMILE and you will be surprised of what you can do and become!

Thankyou for sharing this information Kati, really informative. Thankyou for all the hard work you put into these videos and for releasing a amazing and helpful book. Your RU-vid helps me every day. We all love you lots Kati 💖💛💖💛 (P.s.) you always explain things so well and I always gain things and learn things from your videos xoxo

i find it funny that kati has a book called "are u ok?" because i have a book called "we are okay"

christian teaching on deliverance may be better in addressing those dark personality sub-selves merger with demons , that signal and try to gain access to human mind via spiritual nervous pathways . Yes there is a spiritual nervous pathway to the conscious mind , and it explains quite a bit . overcome evil with good. love yourself and others .

Most emotional health problems are a result of our modern living.i have ptsd and now spend more time out in the middle of nowhere than the city and guess what? Grounding myself in what we are ment to be part of is helping better than the meds I am on! The modern world is a sick joke in my view and we are going to see a huge rise in mental illness as a result because we are getting away from the real natural order of life

But what if the mental illness is caused by an unknown physical illness. Then if you find what’s wrong do mental illnesses symptoms dissapear?

I like your eyes... Are they grey or like blue? Also, I wish I could cure all mental health illnesses and conditions, or I wish someone could.

We love watching your videos. They have helped a lot! Thank you so much Kati!

If mental illness is not curable, I would be interested in your thoughts about whether someone with an eating disorder can be recovered. I know some people believe that they can be recovered, while others feel they are always recovering.

Is gambling - in stocks and shares, say - a mental illness? Is it curable? If yes, then, how? If not, could it be brought under control at least, through acquiring a new pastime, say? Thanks in advance

well there goes all my hope.

So consistent and the best timing!!🤩🤩

So if our brain can rearrange its connections...then, it means that the brain can heal it self. Meaning mental illness CAN be cured.

PLEASE help I don’t know what to do my 14 year old sister is fighting with depression and is drinking alcohol what can I do or going to help her please I want to help her and my family that didnt know!

Love the video

I do have to say I really appreciate and love your videos. But on a completely different context, the editing of your videos is on point! Even though I can tell when you cut and splice or edit, you do a very well job of keeping us engaged, as well as being informative and light-hearted. It makes me feel good to watch your videos, it puts me in a better mood...all on top of enlightening me with real psychological truths. Thank you for what you do. Most certainly a guideline of what to aim for in my own videos. Again... thank you! -joe

hey kati, do you have any plans of conducting any live chats where people can ask random questions ?

You should make a shirt than says "I *heart* Neuroplasticity". I would absolutely buy it!

Is BPD in adolescence a thing? Just wondering. Thanks anyone who answers.

I'm confused.... I am a female with BPD. I thought there was no cure. There's therapies that help, like DBT. I thought that even with therapies cluster B or BPD could get better but never cured. Katie help me out please. There's so much misinformation out there.

unfortunately I experienced a close friend's passing over the weekend + the grief + shock is a struggle. I live with anxiety, which hasn't risen up in the way it usually does. however Sunday I felt numb, literally felt nothing and then the physical pain kicked in (muscles sore). then yesterday that numbness lessened + grief started processing. I've not cried or broken down yet but I know the tears will show when the shock experience passes. good video but I think an explanation on differences of recovery/cured/remit might need clarifying x

You are awesome kati

Just bought you book today kati looking forward to this topic

Kati, I have a question. Ive read that our gut is considered our second brain. Could anxiety and depression be cured or subsided with good gut health? Possibly going to a GI doctor to check your gut bacteria and or going to a nutritionist too? This is a very serious topic for me since I’m in the storm of depression and anxiety and trying to do right by my body and mind. Thank you for your knowledge and time. Olivia

Wow what happened to Kati..I was subbed when she was less than 90k now she's almost 700k wow👏🏾

It was helpful but not hopeful. Can you do a video on Schizzo affective disorder?

People always advice me to love myself, and to change my mindset. Of course I want that but it's easier to say than done. I don't know what I feel and how to fix myself. I constantly feel that I want to disappear.

This is a very good explanation of the difference between mental health and mental illness. And it is not just you. We have the same problem too. Thank you Kati !

Hi Kati. My name is Angie and I am new to the Kinion family. I was wondering if you have done a video on abandonment. I grew up in a broken home with an alcoholic father, and I believe that I have abandonment issues. Lately I have been obsessed with making sure everything I do is right so that nothing bad will happen to me. I have been very afraid and anxious. I’ve been trying to practice mindfulness each day. Do you have any advice for me? Thank you so much!

Doesnt the hippocampus and amygdala change permanently with depression ?

I have an idea for a video. Can you talk about defensiveness, both when the royal "we" are getting defensive or dealing with someone who is very defensive?

Thank you for this information 🙏🏻😘

Thankyou Katie . I'll have too get your book . I have severe BPD trying too get well . Thankyou .

My anxiety is like a fast growing weed. Every day I hack away at it to keep it somewhat under control. If I focus on one spot, that might start to look okay, but then I turn around to find another spot overgrowing. And if I take my attention off of any one area, thinking it’s okay for now, everything grows back. Someone told me that if you grow up with a lot of trauma, then that’s just how your brain develops. I hope I can be normal someday, but I’m not super hopeful...

amazing video ! very helpful and hopeful !

yayy!! i loved this

Its not curable because its not an ilness

Mental health needs to be more talked about. Its just as important as physical.

Does this apply to anxiety, phobias and depression though?

Thank you, again, Kate, for all of your hard work, and for sharing it with us. Four years on from my official diagnosis (ASD, depression, anxiety, ADD/HD) i still struggle to juggle with it all. Remember to take my Rx. Remember to take care of my (mental) health. Etc. Your videos have helped me sort through some things. To help... sort out differences of the things i deal with, and sometimes to help explain things to friends, that i struggle to put to words. You are a God send, and a help. Thank you.

Thanks, good advise. Just take care like any other illness 💖

Just finished your book today. Going to post my review Tuesday. Excited to share as I didn't expect to be reading your book. Went to the library looking for something else and ran across your book. Picked it up without hesitation. God bless you and your work!

Kati I really wish you were my therapist :( all these videos are so good that I already feel connected to you and your therapy “style”. Wish you knew me too!

Kati, I think you should do a video on boundaries with therapists and what really is crossing them, like ethically especially.

I just started anti-depressants again today, and that marble analogy was really helpful. Here's hoping I can stay with it this time and get better.

Can Katie be my therapist here in the U.K😥😥

I love this! it’s great to have it broken down and explained in a way i can share it with family and friends who may not understand ❣️

Don't worry people. I'm going to find a cure for mental illness

Thank you for yet again another informative yet personal and genuine interaction, Katie! You’re the best! I appreciate the work you put in to make your videos each and every week! ❤️

Kati I love your videos they’re richly informative that you put in everyday language in a genuinely caring compassionate manner that people can relate and understand, there was another Yt channel by another therapist I unsubscribed to bc it began to occur to me it didn’t seem healthy, and I saw some others seemed to notice by comments they made. That therapist includes an “impressive” announcement at start of each video theyre “scientifically” backed. Another viewer pointed out in the comments psychology is a social science - not science that’s implied in the announcement - it’s a social science not a chemistry equation - while I may be incorrect or misunderstood, it seems to be an effort to promote the assumption whatever those videos teach must be correct - some people may buy into that correlation which isn’t to my knowledge how it works - since it’s a social science as that other viewer wrote in the comments not a clean science formula like chemistry equation....im so thankful I found your channel it’s very uplifting healthy and richly informative

Another incredible video Katie! I’m a mental health practitioner also and on my RU-vid channel I look at very similar topics to this. That differentiation between mental illness and mental health is vital! Thanks for bringing such awesome awareness to this topic and by the work you do on your channel!

You are awesome

I really love your videos ! Thank you for putting them out there 😊 could you please talk about persons who need constant praise and attention from their colleagues friends family gf/bf to feel good ... not sure if it counts as narcissism... like "fishing for compliments and acting like babies " type of behavior .. and how we should cope with them specially when we are close to them... Thank you ❤

I have just found your channel though a lady named Ashley ., im a huge awareness advocate on mental , physical , environmental.. etc .. If it has a ribbon we discuss it .. and partnered on another site, but I am very interested in Learning from you...I appreciate you making a difference.. this is much needed online ..thank you

Hi Kati last week one of my friends saw cuts on my arm, then later she told my other friend. So I got mad at them. So the next day in the morning when I was at school I was mad and angry so then my two friends also told 3 more people then also told the counselor, so the counselor called me in, and my 2 friends were there with her so the counselor asked me if I wanted to talk about it so I said no. Then my friend started talking maybe for a minute she stopped and wanted me to answer her but what I did is I went, the counselor came behind me but I was running so she couldn’t catch me. Then the counselor was staring at me the hole time, like in the hallway and stuff. And I asked one of my other friends to ask her if she’s going to tell my mom and the counselor said yes. My mom wanted me to go talk to the counselor even tho i didn’t want to talk to her. But few days ago i went to talk to the counselor. I said to her that i wanted to talk to her, like what my mom said that I’ll go and explain to her about what happened. But when i went at first i didn’t say anything then she asked me if my mom and i talked and i said yes. Then she asked if i said the truth and i said yes but then she asked me what i wanted to talk about but i thought that she knew what i wanted and that she’s going to ask me about my self harm but she didn’t. She also said that my mom called her and told her that i wanted to talk to her about something, but the counselor said that she doesn’t know what’s it’s about, also she said that she knows something is happening and she’s worried about me. But i felt that i couldn’t say anything and i was crying the hole time not saying anything.

I have borderline personality disorder. Through therapy I have been able to gain a better understanding of my emotional Cycles and how I was allowing myself only to think with my emotional mind and not a wise mind although this is something I probably always will have to work on I feel it is getting better. I no longer cut myself or have extreme emotional outbursts I am able to come myself quickly and stay focused something in my early twenties I was not able to accomplish but I feel you get out as much work as you put in

yeah, if you could cure my Schizotypal and Tourrettes, that would be awesome... lol, except I'm going to die this way. oh well

Omg I’m so excited!

thank you kati =)

I love you. That's it. That is all I had to say. You have my love and my thanks.

I so, so appreciate whoever is doing your captions! I can tell it's not on a teletype 😍. Thank you!

Read the whole excerpt of your book in 4 minutes, and enjoyed every one of them. Thank you Kati💙

Thank you very much for all that you do, Katie.

Tysm for making these videos, it really means a lot to me. I’m going through a very shitty time rn and can’t see my psychologist all the time cuz I’m on a budget. I don’t really have any friends to talk to and my family always aggravates me when I try to talk to them. So thank you for being here. 💞💞

Hey Kati, why do I cry whenever I talk to my kids in a nice voice like when reading a story or singing a nursery rhyme? My eyes start watering and I just start crying anytime I talk to my kids like that. I also feel really sad and lonely anytime I’m around toys or a library or schools. For some reason when I’m around innocent things I just imagine all the kids being sad or suffering. I was wondering if this is a real phenomenon. I was neglected as a child. Thanks.

My ACT dumped me because they cannot help me. Nice huh?

Thank you for sharing, I am hopeful to just be able to manage . Angel hugs n Blessings to you and yours

Thank you Kati for creating this wonderful video and giving me some tools to use.

hi Kati, i love your vids