This week (Oct. 5-11) is Mental Illness Awareness Week, a week dedicated
to raising awareness and educating people about mental illness.
There is so much more awareness
about mental illness now than when I was younger. I remember being told as a
child that certain people were in the hospital because they “had a nervous
breakdown.” And it was usually said in a whisper.
I had no real idea of what a
nervous breakdown was. But it sounded bad, like a loss of control, like
something to pity. It definitely sounded like something that should be kept a
secret.
In reality, it was a secret kept by people who thought
having a mental illness was something to be ashamed of.
When I was first diagnosed with
OCD and depression in my mid-20s, I was ashamed. I thought if others found out,
they would think I was deficient, weak. So I told only a very few close friends
and family. Even with them, I brushed it off as just a little problem that I
was taking care of with medicine.
The secretive way I handled my
mental illness kept me from getting the full help that I needed.
For example, I didn’t want to get
into a lot of therapy, including cognitive behavior therapy, because I’d have
to ask off from work. How could I ask off for a doctor’s appointment if I didn’t
look physically ill? I wouldn’t lie about it, but I couldn’t be honest either.
Several concerns kept me from
getting the treatment that I needed when I was younger, but my fear of being
stigmatized was part of it.
Nowadays, people talk about mental
illnesses much more openly. Advocacy and education are still necessary—there are
a lot of misconceptions out there, a lot of blaming—but the atmosphere for
discussion has improved.
With discussion, stigma can
lessen. We can ask each other questions and listen to each other’s stories. We
can learn that we’re not the only one feeling certain feelings and thinking
certain thoughts.
We can learn that we’re not alone.
Being aware is a big deal for me. So
I’m happy to lend my voice to awareness of mental illness this week and beyond.
For more information about mental
illness, check out the website of the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
Oct. 9 is also National Depression Screening Day. If
you even think you’re depressed, please get screened and get help. And pass the
word to your friends.
Let’s all be aware.
I second everything you say, Tina! We've made progress, but still have far to go.
ReplyDeletea very important message - the not alone part must bring such a relief to recognize how you feel in others and know there is hope of help.
ReplyDeleteawwww tina, such a long road it's been!!! as a nurse, i am well educated on mental illness and i am always the first to say, it's a disease, just like diabetes or heart disease. progress has been made but there is still much to be done!!!!
ReplyDeleteYou are always such a great advocate for those with mental illness!
ReplyDeleteThere's still a long way to go on this one. With people like you advocating I hope there will be some improvement in the attitude of the general public.
ReplyDeleteimportant message you've shared-it is odd how we tend to shy away from that area of illness, we human beings are a strange breed, advocates such as yourself do a great deal to help improve the imagine/s, plus your encouragement to others is such a gift.
ReplyDelete