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Working to end the stigma and discrimination of mental illness.
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.
I have fought and lived with depression for over half my life. I was 10 years old when I was first diagnosed, and I will be 21 soon. A few weeks after my 10th birthday, I started having uncontrollable thoughts that made me feel so guilty. I washed my hands constantly; I couldn't stop. I thought I had lost my mind.
The biggest part of my journey was depression. It was my best friend during dark times. When I would hide away from the open arms of friends, depression would wrap me in its' dark embrace. I have often heard people say through the years that people who suffer from depression are selfish. That is not true. People with depression, no matter what kind they suffer from, are lost.
I was diagnosed with Major Depression and Panic Disorder when I was 13 years old. I've been hospitalized 3 times for my illness, once, when I was 24 because of a suicide attempt, that was a direct result of the stigma surrounding Mental Illness. I got better, changed my surroundings, met an amazing man, married him, and became stronger.
All I want is to be able to live my life without having to hide my illness. I didn't bring this on myself. I'm sick. I'm tired of having people tell me to either "relax" or "cheer up." They don't mean any harm, but they just don't get that it's not that simple.
Four years ago, at the age of 15, I was hospitalized and diagnosed with severe depression. I was engaging in self injury, and nearing the edge of suicide. I fortunately recovered from this depression, but am still affected by this illness.
I was sexually abused the majority of my childhood. My abuse started from when I was just a little girl and ended the summer when I went into sixth grade.
In my early years, I was often described as intelligent, sensitive, overachieving and shy. My childhood was wrought with constant judgments from family members who called me "dramatic". In school, I could out perform my peers academically; but socially, I was an outcast.
I am 15 years old and suffer from depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, and anger issues. I was taken out of school for 5 months to deal with my issues and going back to school, I felt alone and like no one understood.
I am 18 years old and I fight both depression and anxiety. As strange as it may sound, I am a very bubbly person and I want to push myself to live as best a life I can.