The bottom line is that if you are in hell, the only way out is to go through a period of sustained misery. Misery is, of course, much better than hell, but it is painful nonetheless. By refusing to accept the misery that it takes to climb out of hell, you end up falling back into hell repeatedly, only to have to start over and over again.

Question

Marsha M. Linehan. What does this quote mean?

Answer 1

This quote is referring to the idea that in order to overcome difficult emotional or mental health issues, it is necessary to go through a period of discomfort and pain. It is not easy to confront and work through these issues, but it is the only way to make progress and eventually find relief. Refusing to accept the discomfort and pain associated with this process will only lead to a cycle of returning to the same difficult situation.