in-crisis support: 800.273.TALK (8255) • mental health information and resources: 877.726.4727
Working to end the stigma and discrimination of mental illness.
I am an artist, musician, and writer living with schizophrenia, undiagnosed until 2010. My childhood was clouded with hallucinations, fear, and voices. I dissociated to deal with traumatic abuse, and later in life with psychotic episodes. I assumed that I experienced the same world as everyone else. When confronted or questioned about my behavior, I became confused and hurt. Subsequently, Iʼve spent much of my life lonely and in isolation.
Psychiatrist number four was my miracle. On my first visit she gave me a ten page questionnaire to fill out. It included an extensive family history, my personal history, questions about friendships and my marriage.
Stigma hurts, but each one of us has the power to overcome it through educating others about our illness and understanding that our mental illness does not define us—it is simply an aspect of who we are.
My beautiful, compassionate daughter has borderline personality disorder. She began struggling with BPD when she was 8, but psychiatrists are reluctant to diagnose BPD in someone so young...this is not doing anyone any favors. Self harm and multiple suicide attempts are part of her history--I could only imagine the pain she felt that made her think these were her choices.
I was diagnosed as Bipolar II in May of 2011. After many years of tears and self-hate, this was a relief. Finally I understood what I needed to do.
Rachel's story about her high school classmate Ryan inspired her to create a very special video.
I was diagnosed as bipolar about five years ago, after many years of suffering a long history of depression, anxiety, mania, self-injury and disordered eating. Being a young college student, the news was frightening. I had dreams of being a teacher, and I was devastated at the thought of having my whole life's ambition jeopardized by the diagnosis.
I was told I’m bipolar. Come again?? I was informed that due to my history of depression combined with my recent manic episode, I had a mental illness. I was sick. A team of psychiatrists advised me to change my lifestyle and change it quick, in order to stay healthy, happy, and out of the hospital.
I am very honest with others about my own experiences with mental illness. Continually, people respond with surprise that I’ve had such problems, and that makes me so happy. Why does it please me? Not because I think I’ve achieved acting “normal,” and not because I think I hide my problems well. It makes me happy because I know that, with each person I meet, I am helping to change society’s perception of mental illness.
My biggest frustration is trying to navigate the medical/psychological world begging for help in times of crisis. I'm still learning as I make mistakes, but I've had to literally beg different medical people for help. The Psych wards don't want someone with physical needs and the medical wings certainly don't want someone in a Manic Episode.