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I’ve been living with mental illness since early teens,I’m in 50s now..I’ve been in and out of hospitals,counseling all those yrs.to many to count..some doing more damage than help…Diagnosed w recurrent major depression,BPD,anxiety,ptsd.etc……..I don’t see the good in life or people..I suffer and I know the stigma and that doesn’t help ,nor does the insurance problem . My latest suicide attempt was this year, ive been put on court ordered counseling and meds.my secondary insurance stopped and that’s the one that pd for counseling,once again Im in yet another counselors office…I don’t trust anybody so this is not easy but this guy I already feel may be different,cause I’ve been used,given up on,harmed by many many counselors…For the first time in 35+yrs of countless treatments,counselors I’m hearing,We care,were here for you,were not in it for the money,it’s cause we care,we don’t want you hurting/killing yourself,we want you to take it moment by moment and live a better life and fight..we want to be here for you..That is something I’ve needed to here but havent.EVER..Maybe there might be a tiny bit of hope,maybe I can try getting back up and fighting w this therapist help…I don’t know cause it’s only been a few wks…But also w insurance issue I can’t get some meds that are mandated,and I can not afford…It’s so wrong cause I know there’s alot like me,where we need treatment and meds to keep not only stable but to maybe have hope
Thank You
I was diagnosed with a mental illness at the age of 19. I am now 62. Not only have I suffered from mental illness I have struggled with the stigma of having mental illness for 43 years now. I was diagnosed with acute depression, PTSD and bi-polar disorder and I became very much overwhelmed - alone, lost and hopeless. I was seriously contemplating suicide. Someone suggested that I investigate the services available at my local chapter of NAMI.
I understand that I can never be completely cured of mental illness but with the help of the advocates at NAMI my ‘situation’ was stabilized and there is now hope in my life. In addition to the regular psychiatric care I I receive I attend weekly sessions with a ‘Life Coach’ from NAMI as a client of a program they administer called 'Self-Directed Care’. In addition to the one-on-one counseling I am offered specific goal-oriented financial assistance that helps me pay for my treatment and psychiatric medications and in developing and implementing a plan of action who’s goal is to make me self-sufficient and no longer dependent on the welfare system.
Whether I eventually succeed or not is still in question and a lot depends on me, but the fact is that today I have a real chance to make a contribution to society instead of being a drain on it. Without NAMI I would be just another mental patient wandering without direction and chances are that I would continue to be in and out of inpatient psychiatric facilities - the perpetual 'revolving door’. Thanks to you and your support of NAMI and the great people there I now have a chance to live a healthier, happier, more productive life. More of a blessing than a burden. Thank you.
Coming out with Mental Health Issues – Career Suicide?
Coming out in the traditional sense of being Gay, Lesbian, Bi, Trans, etc., in the work place has its own set of fears and potential consequences. Coming out that you have a Mental Health challenge, such as major depression, anxiety, panic attacks, PTSD, or other challenge is equally accompanied with a host of fear because of many deep rooted stigmas. Regardless of the current laws and ordinances against discrimination in the workplace any of us who have been around the block a few times know that it is all too real for many of us. The lived experiences of coming out, in many cases can be disastrous, loss of professional status, promotions, loss of jobs, livelihood, housing, relationships, family, leading to more stress and exacerbating existing mental conditions. Other stigmas may also play a factor and further compound the pile on effect, kick them when they are down, crowd mentality.
Stop The Cycle ***Trigger Warning***
I got married for the second time at 38 to a very talented man, who teaches his craft to local students. We both came into the relationship with depression and anxiety, and bonded over our love of music, books, film, and an old story of a kiss we shared in high school. We opened a business together and developed a beautiful community of students and their families. This is not one of those stories that was a fairytale from the beginning and one day turned dark. We shared so many normal days, like most families, and there were beautiful days, too, but there was also an undercurrent of abuse that was there from the beginning. I learned years later in therapy that what I experienced was emotional abuse, which is a form of domestic violence. On the worst day, I also experienced sexual assault, although I wouldn’t fully feel what happened to me emotionally or physically until years later.
You Are Not Alone: Ending the Stigma
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.
*Trigger Warning* My Story
I suffer from anxiety, PTSD , and depression. Lost a brother to suicide. I’ve used self harm to self medicate. Feeling like it gave me some control of the pain imposed on me. I was apart of a religion that taught me I was “sinning” because
My name is Sarah Clanton, I am a singer songwriter and cellist based out of Nashville, TN and I live and thrive with Anxiety and ADHD. My friend Heather Mae, singer songwriter and pop activist based out of Washington, DC, lives and thrives with Bipolar 2 and Depression. Together we got together to speak out and #breakthestigma in honor of Suicide Prevention Awareness Month.
Our video is a call to action, a call for conversation, inclusion and compassion to end the bias against mental illness.
Save a life, share this video. Together let’s take one step closer and #breakthestigma
Need help? It’s ok to need help. 24/7 Crisis Text Line: 741741
When Chester Bennington of Linkin Park committed suicide in July, 2017, I knew I wanted to cover a song in his memory. At first the thought of covering this song was hard, but that’s how I knew it had to be done. Conversations worth having are often the hardest. When I first remembered this Linkin Park song I thought of the good times driving around in my Jeep Grand Cherokee in the early 2000s with my bestie Amber. When I sat down to review LP’s songs to figure out which song I would sing I teared up, my stomach turned, it broke me open as I realized: here was a man so seen, yet so unseen. Every lyric asking for help, trying to process how he was feeling. Meanwhile millions who relate sang along, struggling with their own mental health, including myself, and I had another realization: we have a serious cultural epidemic. We can all do better, we can all choose our words, take better care to pay attention to those around us. We can all bet better listeners. Its real, and it is right in front of us, it is in us. And it is nothing to be ashamed of. If you feel lost. There’s help. You are not alone.
Thank you for watching and sharing!
<3 Sarah Clanton
There will always be hope **Trigger Warning**
I am someone who has lost people to suicide and almost lost my self too. I have always been told to suck it up until I spoke out about my abuse. I have been diagnosed with depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Ending the stigma is beyond important to me because if it wasn’t so hard for people to talk about, maybe my teammate, classmate, and grandmother would still be here. I know they were hurting, but I only knew when it was too late. Ending the stigma would save lives, the way speaking up saved me. I have been clean from self harm for almost a year now and have gotten the help I need. There is always hope, even when you feel as if it is the end. Your story isn’t over. I am living proof that it gets better.
So Happy That I Found You
I am writing this letter to you as a spouse and sibling of mental illness.My brother was never fully diagnosed with depression or bipolar, he suffered several years. As a result of not getting proper treatment, his medication was changed very frequently and he committed suicide. He left behind three children under the age of 13. It’s been really hard to understand the what and the why, he chose to take his life.
I took the next NAMI Family-to-Family program at our local VA hospital, in 2010 it was the first time I had been educated on any form of mental illness. After taking the class I wanted to let everyone that I know about all the information I learned. I took the teacher program and became an advocate for NAMI and I can honestly say that it helped me to heal from my brothers death. I still would like to know why but that’s something I will never know.
Being Apart of Something Bigger Then Me ***Trigger Warning: Self Harm***
Mybname is Paul. I have been dealing with mental illness most of my life. I have PTSD, DEPRESSION, ANXIET, AND SUICIDAL TENDENCES. I mention all of thes in bold lettering to offer a hand to say, “I do struggle myself.” The blessing is I have a job that allows me to give a little bit of myself back. I have tried to end my life more then once. I know how addicting cutting can be or just the thoughts of ending everything. I am the last person to ask for help. Even when I should be the first, I Apologize if this seems to be all over the place. My mind since my brain injury from assault lt has changed my view on life. I had to relearn how to walk and talk all over again from being in a comma. I do have static paralyses in my right hand. I am so learning how to better myself every day. Sometimes you just need a little help. Due the COVID 19. I have retreated and not looked for any support on my own. I experience a few NAMI programs. I would like to force myself to make time to manage my mental health the best I can..So, for inspiration. I am requesting help. My life is Stagnant and is a lot of struggling on a daily bases. I work as a personal trainer with people with disabilities. It is very rewarding to know that I am doing with folks is pain management. And is rewarding the little gains of lowering someones pain and mental outlook on what they can do to better them self. Personally finically I am barely making it for for now.