20 July, 2010

here's my brain.


i haven't really written about my brain, medication, counseling, or struggles in awhile...mostly because i haven't been struggling as much lately. my life hasn't changed too much, but my way of dealing with it has.

however, i just created a new button for my sidebar (to the right) that links to all the posts where i address these things because i think it is so important to be open about them.

i don't like the stigma that is attached to mental illness. i don't like that people are so ashamed of their struggles. i don't like that people suffer silently, all the while feeling bad about themselves, wondering what's "wrong" with them. i don't like the misconceptions out there about medication and therapy.

i'd like to have the smallest, tiniest part in changing these things that i don't like, so that we can all live in a healthier, more informed world.

so please, feel free to read about my experience with mental illness. don't hesitate to continue emailing me with your questions and your stories. i feel a responsibility to be honest and open with you about this stuff, and i really don't mind sharing. i choose to live in the kind of world where people talk about everything - the good, the bad, the beautiful, the ugly, the joyful, and the painful.

15 comments:

  1. You are awesome!! Thanks for this post. I have someone close to me who will so love you for writing this. She has suffered immensely and has had to endure the stigma and lack of education on this by close friends and family. Its sad that mental illness is treated so differently by people than a physical illness. So not right, in my opinion. So happy you are open, honest and a great inspiration!! I think you are fabulous! xo

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  2. I love that you posted this. My mom is the chair of the board for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) in L.A. and a lot of what we do is in education to rid that stigma. We love the analogy of if you had cancer (a type of illness) you would go to the doctor and get treatment for it right? well what about mental illness? yes it's a different type of illness, one you can't see, but just as scary.

    I agree with our little love nest..a great inspiration. Keep an honest blog, YOU ROCK!!

    <3

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  3. Thank you for this. Thank you for being a voice for all of us.

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  4. I absolutely love you for doing this. I also believe it's very important to erase the stigma that mental illnesses have and I think it's very courageous and admirable that you're being so open about yourself and your struggles. Love and luck to you, girl!

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  5. awesome idea - I love that you are taking the time to make your struggle more well known xx

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  6. Thank you so much for being honest, reading your posts was a big inspiration for me to write about my own struggle with mental illness. I think one of the best ways to fight the stigma is to be honest and to show that mental illness can strike anyone, anywhere, at anytime.

    Thank you again for being such a great example, I really appreciate your honesty, it's made my own struggle easier. It's reassuring to see that I'm not alone nor am I "crazy".

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  7. this is totally awesome. I think it is great that you are writing about this and sharing your experiences. Your example will certainly give others the courage to speak about their experiences. Thanks! You are an awesome inspiration!

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  8. this is totally awesome. I think it is great that you are writing about this and sharing your experiences. Your example will certainly give others the courage to speak about their experiences. Thanks! You are an awesome inspiration!

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  9. this is totally awesome. I think it is great that you are writing about this and sharing your experiences. Your example will certainly give others the courage to speak about their experiences. Thanks! You are an awesome inspiration!

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  10. Why why why?!? is it that we live in a society where we feel like we have to hide our struggles? I've been struggling with some major emotional issues and have yet to find someone I feel comfortable talking to them about. Maybe it's because I'm so judgmental of myself. I dunno. It shouldn't have to be such a struggle.

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  11. omg im so glad to have found your blog again. my old laptop died and now i have a new mac, so that took some getting used to.

    i totally agree with your feelings about mental illness. i dont think it should be a taboo subject and i dont mind talking about my issues either. i absolutely love going to therapy, but then again i am extremely analytical so that might be why.

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  12. Your are a brave, fierce, beautiful woman! One day you really will look back on this journey and thank yourself for taking it. I'm experience depression, I don't suffer as much any more. I learned that talking about it, sharing it, explaining is empowering. We can change misconception one person at a time!

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  13. wow. i just literally stumbled across your blog and now i think something greater must have had a hand in it. thank you, thank you, thank you for sharing your story. this has been so helpful to me (i recognize a lot of myself in your words) and i think this will be very helpful to my sisters. we grew up in a very... chaotic household. it has recently been suggested that we're all 3 suffering from some type of mood disorder and i really resented this because i have worked so hard NOT to be a product of my childhood. your experience and your acceptance has give me a new point of view.

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  14. "i choose to live in the kind of world where people talk about everything - the good, the bad, the beautiful, the ugly, the joyful, and the painful."

    i, wholeheartedly, agree with this!

    i've talked a little about being "borderline" and not talking about madonna's song.

    i do really admire you even though we don't know one another.

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