It’s hard to believe that stigmas still exist, but they do. And what I’ve found is that those who perpetuate stigmas are those who do not suffer from what is stigmatized. In other words, those without addiction or mental illness are the ones that believe the stigmas. 

Why does the stigma exist? We live in a world that is opposite of the world we need to live in. And we are coming off decades of suppressing and not talking about feelings. Everything is based on money and where we are in the life cycle (the pattern of school to work to marriage to children). If we just work hard enough, stop making excuses, toughen up, or suck it up, everything will be ok. Or if we just get in line and follow suit, we will be able to retire happily one day. What we’ve failed to do as a society is realize that the mental creates the physical. That my well being is the basis for my life cycle. That life works inside out and not outside in. But when someone isn’t able to keep up with the Joneses, they simply aren’t trying hard enough. Or they are weak. Or lazy. 

In my own experience, I struggled with severe anxiety in my 20’s, compounded by my alcohol abuse. When I got sober, I still struggled with depression and anxiety. In addition to taking prescribed medication, I did a ton of healing work and things got better. My therapist thought it was a good idea to slowly reduce my medication until I was off it completely. It went well for about six months. And then I had what I can only describe as a nervous breakdown at 8 years of sobriety. I went back on the medication and plan to stay on it for the foreseeable future. 

Some of us have situational depression and anxiety and others have just regular old depression and anxiety. In any case, it’s not a moral failing. It’s not a choice. It couldn’t have been prevented. Nothing you do will eradicate it completely. Some of us need medication and others don’t. I’m a big fan of taking medication if you need it. It has saved my life. Why suffer when help exists? Many think it’s a crutch or that it will mask their natural feelings or abilities. In my experience, it simply raised the bottom to a more manageable level. It allowed me to have a full range of feelings that weren’t debilitating. I don’t feel high or medicated. I just have a baseline that allows me to get out of bed in the morning and do what I need to do. And I still have anxiety from time to time. I just don’t spiral so far down that I withdraw from life. 

To suffer from depression, anxiety or any form of mental illness is a real struggle. It’s a legitimate, diagnosable and treatable illness. And it’s one that we don’t often recognize until the symptoms are so bad that we finally verbalize what we are experiencing. I didn’t know I was depressed until I understood what depression was. Education is so important and it’s available at your fingertips. 

I have mental illness and I’ll shout it from the rooftops. There is nothing wrong with me. I simply have a disease that I need to treat, just like any other disease. I truly believe it’s not my fault. I know what to do today to take care of myself. For me, it’s seeing my doctor regularly and following medical direction. It’s making sure I get enough sleep, don’t drink too much caffeine, exercise, mediation, eating to fuel my body and medication. Whatever your formula is I hope it works for you!