We are not ashamed…
People are tired of hiding their mental illnesses. Tired of pretending to have a cold for the fifth time this year, instead of disclosing the real reason to employers why they’re off sick again. Tired of explaining why they can’t get out of bed. Tired of explaining why yesterday, they were fine but today, they’re not. Tired of making up excuses for the medication they’re taking. Tired of convincing themselves, they are fine. Tired of convincing their friends that they’re fine. Tired of being ashamed of their mental states. Shame is standing in our way and stopping us from accessing support when we need it the most…
Here are 10 reasons why you should never be ashamed of your mental illness.
1. Some of the most successful, impactful and intelligent people of all time had mild to severe mental illnesses. To name a few…
- Martin Luther King Jr had Depression
- Princess Diana suffered from Depression and Bulimia
- Isaac Newton is recorded to have shown signs of Bipolar, psychotic episodes and potential autism
- Kurt Cobain had ADHD and Bipolar
- John Nash had Schizophrenia
- Florence Nightingale had Bipolar
- Marilyn Monroe was never officially or publicly diagnosed but showed signs of Bipolar and Borderline Personality Disorder
2. According to the World Health Organisation, 1 in 4 people will experience mental health problems at some point in their lives. That’s one-quarter of the world’s population.
3. We’re not ashamed when our bodies get sick, so why should we be ashamed when our minds aren’t in top form? We should be looking after our mental health in the same way we look after our physical health.
4. Because there is no normal – our minds are complex things and no single brain is the same.
5. You might think, “Jeeeeze, what do they have to be depressed about 🙄…” well, newsflash: clinical depression is not circumstantial. It is a neurological issue that does not take your material possessions, circumstances or life situations into account – mental illness, unlike many things in life, does not discriminate: nobody is immune.
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6. It’s time to reframe the way we see mental illness. Getting help for your mental health is not a sign of weakness. It’s a sign of strength.
7. Shame is pretty much guaranteed to make things worse. Feelings of shame are proven have detrimental effects on our mental and physical health. Brush that shame aside people, ain’t nobody got time for that!
8. Because it’s no ones fault. No one asks to be depressed and it is definitely not a choice we make. Saying to your depressed friend… “dude, just snap out of it” is literally one of the worst things you can say.
9. The more we talk about mental health, the more okay it becomes. By talking about your mental illness you encourage others to care for their own. The stigma of mental health is having catastrophic effects on people’s lives because we are too ashamed to talk about it and get help. Check out this article for more info…
10. Your mental health doesn’t define you. Don’t let your mental illness become who you are, it is just one aspect of you but always remember that you are more than your depression, anxiety or OCD.
Start a conversation about mental health today – Join the Ditch the Label community and start talking.
