The other day my husband and I went out to eat with my parents, and a past co-worker of my dad stopped to say, “Hi.” My dad told him about his struggles with bone cancer. Today I mentioned to a customer about doughnuts being ten for a dollar this week, and the customer told me he can’t have them because he has diabetes. We easily tell people about illnesses we struggle with, and people listen and show compassion. What if you stopped to talk to an old friend and he or she said, “I’ve been struggling with depression?” Would you show compassion or just act awkwardly or shrug it off like it’s no big deal?
Mental illness isn’t as widely accepted or understood as other sicknesses. Many don’t understand it and there’s a lot of stigma surrounding it. Often people struggling with mental illness hide it behind a smile. They suffer alone because they are afraid of how people will react if they tell them. Some people think those with this illness are dangerous, when most of the time they are only dangerous to themselves. Some think you can choose to snap out of your illness, but you can’t. There are many misconceptions.
I have dealt with some stigma surrounding my own struggles with mental health. When a boss found out I had depression and was a self-injurer, he said I was a danger to the customers and employees. The only person I had ever hurt was myself. When I got out of the mental health hospital people, didn’t show concern and compassion. They asked me why I was in the looney bin, they asked me if I had hurt myself on purpose when I had a paper cut, they watched me carefully around knives, and they judged me. This made me feel angry and sad. I just wanted people to care and show me compassion, but instead they made me feel inferior.
I write this blog so I can spread the word that mental illness is an illness like any other. The person struggling has symptoms, gets treatment, and works towards feeling better, just like any other illness. I willingly tell people I’m a breast cancer survivor, but I don’t tell people too often that I’m in recovery from mental illness. A lot of people congratulate me for surviving cancer, but it would be different with recovery from mental illness.
I’m starting to talk more about my recovery from mental illness because I want people to see that this illness is like any other illness. We are humans struggling with an awful sickness, getting treatment, working towards recovery, and we are functioning in society. The more we talk the more we educate people about this sickness and dispel the stigma that surrounds it.
I’m going to be filmed soon talking about my fight with depression, anxiety, and self-injury for a documentary for One Life Project. I’ll probably become emotional and cry, but it’s important to tell my story. This documentary will be on news stations and on social media. I’m excited to do this because we need to talk more about mental illness, and society needs to hear our stories so they can see we are like anyone else fighting an illness.
So, instead of hiding our sickness, let’s talk about it. Tell people you are dealing with a horrible illness and taking the steps to reach recovery. Tell people about how you reached recovery. Tell people about what mental illness is and that you deserve to be heard. Let’s defy the stigma and show the world we are just like people struggling with diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and so on. Let’s stop hiding and start talking. When someone asks how you’re doing don’t lie and say,
“I’m doing great.” Tell them the truth. Say, “Today is not a good day. I’m struggling with my depression.” If they shrug it off, then educate them about your illness.
I’m going to keep talking about mental illness and find ways to educate people so that someday those who face this illness don’t have to hide it. Talking about it also frees me from fear of judgment and helps me stay in the light of recovery.
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