jeudi 6 avril 2017
Why I'm Not Ashamed to Talk About My Mental Illness
I've always been an anxious person. As a child I refused to make phone calls other than to those in my family and couldn't even handle calling 411 (even after it became an automated voice recording). Talking to people terrified me. What if I misspoke? What if they thought I sounded dumb? What if I didn't make sense? So, when anxiety presented itself again halfway through college, I couldn't say it was a shock.
The anxiety I experienced as a young adult was very different from the anxiety I felt as a kid. At 19, anxiety stretched beyond phone calls. I had general unease towards everything beyond my bedroom door. I felt like there was an immeasurable weight on my chest that was preventing me from getting anything done.
I knew I had to get to the bottom of what was going on and try to resolve it, and this is what I learned.
But I knew it wasn't my fault that I had anxiety and depression
Reflecting on my family's history of mental illness and my life experiences helped me to understand that having mental disorders wasn't something I could have prevented. No one asks for a mental illness, so no one should be blamed or shamed for having one. A lack of understanding can cause people battling a mental disorder to feel as though it is their fault for "being this/that way." But, accepting that my anxiety and depression onset was out of my control helped me to be less hard on myself and get the absolute most out of my treatment.
Receiving treatment wasn't a sign of weakness, it was a sign of strength
I saw it as courageous that I was able to throw up my arms and admit that I couldn't "tough it out." Having incredibly understanding and supportive parents also didn't hurt when the time came to ask for help. After consulting them, as well as my psychiatrist, we came up with a treatment plan that I was on board with. A year and a half ago I chose to begin taking an SSRI medication that helps with both my anxiety and depression. My prescription, paired with talk therapy, provided invaluable support and helped me live without apprehension or fear. Since then, I'm able to run errands without becoming overwhelmed and I can manage a social life, schoolwork, and a healthy lifestyle. Also, I no longer to go to bed with uneasiness that I'll have no motivation get up in the morning. Treatment has given me balance, and I know I was strong for asking for it.
I wasn't the only one
It was easy to feel isolated when I was experiencing something the majority of people might not have to go through. But I quickly discovered that some of those closest to me were fighting mental battles of their own. A lifelong role model, a best friend, and a member of my immediate family were just a few of the people who chose to confide in me about their past or current struggles with mental disorders. I found comfort in the fact that some of the most intelligent, well-rounded, successful people in my life had or were experiencing something similar to me.
My mental illnesses do not define me
The people I mentioned above helped me realize that it's okay that my brain might not be "normal." I am at peace with this, as my mental disorders do not determine my character or capabilities. If anything, they make me a more compassionate and resilient person, so I wouldn't change a thing. Mental illness is a part of me, and talking about that makes me feel empowered, not ashamed.
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