Hello,

I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety at age 20. Im now 35 and in recovery, using meditation, exercise, health food, prescription medications, and continuous learning about mental illness to stay well, and not forget about the suffering I went through, but to use the experience to empower myself and others to end stigma. I was wrongly diagnosed with depression and anxiety, when they were comorbid symptoms to the ADD I had no idea I was truly suffering from. Today I’m on all the correct medications, feeling the way I did at age 19, and I’m turning my passion for teaching, speaking, and supporting NAMI, by being an advocate for a living. It’s so fulfilling, to be rewarded daily, when I speak to schools, my support group, and online. I suggest this as a form of therapy to anyone who has a voice with an important message to spread. Being part of something so big is the best medicine I’ve come to know! 

Statistics state that 1 in 5 people struggle with mental illness but I’m wondering how many people with mental illness but don’t feel safe and comfortable sharing. The term mental illness carries a stigma that most are ashamed or afraid to carry. I have generalized anxiety disorder along with panick attack disorder but that does not mean that I am my “mental illness” just as someone with high blood pressure isn’t labeled as such. Everyone has struggles and issues and should be able to express themselves and seek out the positive in life! I am optimistic about life and know that the options are endless.. the more I share and open up the lighter I feel. I am not alone. You are not alone. I will continue to be open and transparent and Use my anxiety to fuel the fire and view my shortcomings as a strengths that Are continually shaping who I am and giving me goals for who I want to be.

The idea of having a Bipolar Disorder stung me for a long time. When I’m feeling down, sometimes I feel the pressures of the stigma revolving around my mental illness. I always felt like there was a “normal” Valerie or a status quo that I had to

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Nursing school is hell, but it’s a special kind of hell when you’re dealing with mental illness. I tend to keep my depression and anxiety pretty under wraps, partly due to the ever-present stigma associated with mental illness, and partly because in my mind I’m not fit to be a caregiver for others when I’m suffering from my own issues. I started out my healthcare journey with a fear of needles and vomiting. Now, I just graduated with my BSN with a specialty in needles and vomiting (maybe not a specialty, but certainly a tolerance). There is hope. And now I get to pass on the healing I’ve found to other suffering people as a mental health nurse. <3

My name is Abbey and mental illness is something that I’ve struggled with for years. I’ve been diagnosed with several mental illnesses, such as depression, anxiety, post traumatic stress disorder and Bipolar II. I’ve found peace and comfort from sharing my story through writing blogs and poetry, and sharing my story on social media sites. My goal in life is to inspore someone, anyone, and let them know that they are not alone in their struggles and that I want to support anyone in need of support and to be a mentor and someone others can look to for guidance. Even though I  still struggle greatly, I find hope and comfort from sharing my story. I hope that I can be a light in someone else’s life and be there for someone in the same way others have been for me. Support from friends and family that I can relate to truly has saved my life and made me feel safe when talking about my struggles, and I would love to pass down my personal struggles to help guide others through their struggles as well.

My name is Caitlin and I’m 34 years old. I was first diagnosed with depression and anxiety when I was 19, but I’ve probably been struggling with anxiety for my whole life. I am writing this today after hearing others share their stories of recovery from mental illness and feeling inspired to do the same.

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I’m Shawnene and I was diagnosed at age 13 with a mental illness. I come from home to home in foster care. I guess that’s why I was so angry but it proved only strength and growth in my life. I am in many programs and all related to mental illness. One I am currently enjoy is an organization focused on mental illness and artistic expression in breaking stigma related to mental illness. I have been writing poetry and enjoying mic nights and being involved in helping with the next set of artists in our next show. Also I am in NAMI Peer-to-Peer with amazing adults that come together to support and educate each other with coping and dealing with mental illness and sharing their stories. I am pleased to say recovery is possible. Not anyone is alone as I am currently still recovering and wish to go to college this summer for psychology as my major. I want those to know that it’s ok to have emotions and feel the way they do. It’s human and it’s normal and no one is ever alone. I am currently enrolled in college attending programs and have managed my medications. I am recovering.

 I’m 32 years old, from New Orleans, a Mother, Wife, Nursing Student, Survivor, and a member of #NAMI! I am living with mental illness daily. I have multiple diagnosis, so do many of the people close to me, including my very own child, mother, father, and Fiancée. I am helping #fightstigma by educating people and reminding US that it is #OK2Talk 💚 I want to reach as many people as I can. I want to be the voice of those who never had the chance, I want to remind everyone that we are not alone nor do we have to be silent… No Shame, #NOSTIGMA! We all deserve help. WE ALL DESERVE TO BE HEARD! My wounds are invisible BUT THEY ARE THERE.

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I want to take a moment to share the storms that I have been through, especially over the last year. I want to share my story in hopes of breaking stigma on mental illnesses and to open the door for those who don’t understand it. I truly believe God has provided me with an opportunity to open up and advocate for those who struggle mentally.

It’s hard for me to know when my personal struggles really began; it probably started out as mild OCD when I was young but how was I to know that I wasn’t just anal and an over-analyzer? I remember when my OCD began to take form into the obsession of body image and food intake during my last year of high school. I began counting, checking, worrying, and constantly thinking about what I was putting into my body and the effect it created on how I looked. Nobody, myself included, realized that I was sick; the people in my life just thought it was how I was.

Eventually, my eating disorder took over my life. I became destructive to my body, the very beautiful creation of God, in order to try to sustain an image I was never satisfied with. Priorities and relationships were put on the back burner to fuel my obsession. I became depressed and anxious, lacking energy and ambition in all areas of my life. Maybe it was the eating disorder and OCD that covered up the cycles I was mentally going through though; times of darkness and despair following moments of joy and love of life and all in it.

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I was diagnosed with a mental illness at the age of 15. To this day I still suffer from my diagnosis, schizoaffective bipolar disease. Through these times I’ve learned that there’s nothing wrong with me. What I mean is, I’m still human. I have a chemical imbalance in my brain which led me to have this quoted “disease”. I feel, and much less learned that, if the knowledge of mental illness was widespread people would have a better understanding of what mental illness is. It took me to admit and to be compliant with medication to get better. Though it took years, I’m able to say I’m at a highpoint peak in my life, where I’m able to have good relationships, and I have a good job. Finally I stand to say this, Im not ashamed of this, I let people be aware that I’m mentally ill. Come to find out, people are in my corner. DON’T BE ASHAMED OF IT. KEEP YOUR HEAD HIGH.