Screenshot from MentalHealthAmerica.net
May is Mental Health Month, and it’s about time. There’s such a stigma around mental health, that if you’re diagnosed as depressed, you’re “crazy,” if you’re anxious, you’re “too much,” if you’re bipolar, you’re “dangerous” and so on. To those who have always been mentally healthy, be grateful. Mental Health America started the #MentalIllnessFeelsLike hashtag, and it is shedding light on how horrible it can be when your own mind is against you.
I, myself, have struggled with depression and anxiety as long as I can remember. I was only recently officially diagnosed with it, and started taking medication and seeing a therapist. And even after my own leap of faith in dealing with it, any time I’ve talked about medication, I feel like it’s more acceptable to say it’s for “anxiety” instead of depression, which is my higher registered illness.
There’s a lot of my story I am still working on being brave enough to share, with hopes it may help someone someday. There are a multiple causes for my depression, from genetics (from both of my parents) to circumstances in my life. While I haven’t quite been confident enough to share it on as public of a platform as the Nash website is, I am still very passionate about making help for mental illnesses more available, and making others more aware of what the one in five Americans who are diagnosed with a mental illness go through on a daily basis, struggling against their very own mind. The Mental Health America site shares anonymous comments:
#depression #WhatYouDontSee #mentalillnessfeelslike
It's an extra bad day pic.twitter.com/uxkcYrGI3G— M i M i ; (@mimiazarcon0609) May 6, 2016
#anxiety #mentalillnessfeelslike hopeless, exhausting, confusing. Primary thought running through my head, "why can't I just feel happy?"
— Jordan W (@chihawks23gaco) May 5, 2016
If u had a physical illness and nearly died you'd be hailed a hero for fighting but with mental health you're like a criminal #imnotashamed
— Ang (@ang_fran) May 5, 2016
I want to always give an ear to anyone who needs it. If you don’t think you can talk to anyone (maybe you don’t want to disappoint them- I know this is a huge problem of mine), shoot me an email. Together, we can make it through. Believe me, you are worth my time, and I promise to give it to you.
-Kristin
