My Mental Health Life Story, Inspired Edition:

The Mental Illness View

Yup, it is what it is. I was able to not only meet with my counsellor, Erin, but also get my wart zapped by the nurse and meet with Dr. Cherla. In which, Dr. Cherla truly believes that what I'm expierencing and dealing with is depression. And prescribed me with: Cipralex (antidepressant). Just thinking about when I would be able to pick it up.

Also Erin said that I am 19 (and gonna be 20 next month, yay) and am responsible and able to make my own decisions for myself on my own without having or needing my parents approval for. I've tried so many times with talking to them about my mental health issues but has never gone in a positive direction. And so Erin thinks I should stop trying to get them to think differently, and being supportive and just focus on myself and my recovery.

It's my life, my body, my responsibility to take care of myself when issues become aware to me that I'm not okay and need to care for myself on my own terms. As much as important to use your family (parents and siblings) in your support system in this issue, sometimes if your family are stubborn to be supportive for you with your mental illness given from your diagnosis, you should just stop trying to get them to change the way they view the issue and just focus on yourself. Don't share anything with them about the topic, just share with those who you feel comfortable talking about the issue with and those who can part of your support system.

Don't try ignoring that and continue trying to get your family to view mental illness any differently than they ever have been. It's not worth anything. Your mental health is too important to put at risk. You shouldn't continue putting your mental health at risk when continue trying to get your family to view it any differently. Just try your best to focus on yourself, and recovering and try to also get your mind off of trying to get your parents to not be stubborn and against the issue. Yes, even though yes if your covered on their health drug plan, they'll see your antidepressant prescribions on file. But that should never stop you from giving yourself what you need to help you on your journey in recovery. This is just what's best for you. And try to slowly and gradually work towards moving out. Do your research, talk to others who can help give you more information on achieving the plan of moving out. Talking about financially, work once you settle with a long term, ongoing job, distance and others.

Consider your mental health as a top priority for yourself when making every decision for yourself. If anything puts your mental health at risk, don't even consider it. You deserve to take care of yourself especially when your own family aren't considering the damage they are doing to your own mental health. You need to put your mental health as one of your few main priorities.

Also, Dr. Cherla said the ppl of our society who are contributing to breaking the stigma around mental health has been getting progress but we still have a long way to go. And I truly agree with him on that.

I've read an article written by a girl who said that she's noticed that depression and anxiety aren't being seen as taboo anymore but other illnesses like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, post traumatic stress disorder and others too.

This goes along with the discrimination around mental health as well. And also the self stigma attached/caused from the stigma itself for others blame themselves or refuse their diagnosis. It's tragic that the rest of society still isn't being open but overall helping to break the stigma with the rest of us.