My Struggles With Mental Illness

Over the years, I’ve heard a wide variety of things said about people with mental illness. Often, these statements have been directed at me by family and friends, but just as often they’ve been directed at others, too. So, I wanted to address and examine some of these statements, why they’re harmful and help continue to perpetuate the stigma of mental illness, and how people can better educate themselves to avoid causing further harm. 1. “It’s all in your head.” This is easily one of the most common things I’ve heard. It’s also one of the most clueless and dismissive. I typically hear it from people who simply don’t want to acknowledge the existence of mental illness for one reason or another, whether it be because of their religion or for their own convenience or whatever. But the fact of the matter is that mental illness is not just all in our heads. It’s not something we’ve made up. It’s not a fiction to gain attention and sympathy. It’s not an excuse to justif...

Here's another post that might help everyone (and my beloved ones 😔 I'm forever wishing they knew/understand how debilitating it is for me) ----------------- If you know someone who’s depressed or is showing similar symptoms, the chances are that their mental condition affects yours as well. Whether it is a friend desperately seeking assignment help to deal with academic pressure or a loved one gradually withdrawing from social gatherings, watch out for the signs that call for action. More than 300 million people worldwide suffer from depression . Studies show that caregivers or close ones can play a huge role in bringing some love and light to the depressed ones. This post explains how you can be that shining beacon of hope for those battling this dark disease. Read on to know what you can do to not let the darkness engulf. Recognize  the signs early on – how to detect depression When you have a loved one affected with depression, helping them sta...

I RELATE TO THESE POSTS IN THE GODDESS LEVEL: Is it okay to be angry at someone who struggles with mental illness? It’s a feeling of deep hurt that twists my stomach into knots. I give everything I can and feel that I get nothing in return.  All I want is a connection, reliability, and for them not to be a downer all the time! I miss the person I use to know so well!   Even though I struggle with mental illness myself, I do get angry at others that struggle with it. Look, I get it! I know we tend to be very difficult to deal with. In an instant we can turn any moment into a stressful situation. We can be hard to deal with and there are going to be, probably a lot, of times where we let you down. Hey, I’m an advocate for those of us with mental illness. I probably shouldn’t be encouraging you to get angry at us. Yet, I’m going to anyways. But, only under very specific instructions, so listen up! Anger is generally thought of as a “bad” emotion. Peopl...