I have suffered from depression on and off for most of my life.  It is very frustrating that mental health diseases are treated so differently then a physical disease like cancer.  I have to live with this illness for my whole life and yet it is very difficult to discuss as people who do not have this illness do not understand how stigmatizing it is.

On top of this the one treatment that has worked best for me over the last few years is ECT.  There couldn’t be a more stigmatized treatment then ECT.  But it works for me with minimal side effects.  I am able to work socialize and in general have a life because if ECT.  But there are few people I can talk to about it..  I am hoping someday mental health treatment will be as common as treatments for a physical illness.  But until then I refuse to let anyone tell me I am different.