Fighting and bringing awareness to mental illness

Fighting+and+bringing+awareness+to+mental+illness

Each morning I wake up and get ready for school just like any other student. But, my everyday routine might be a little different than others. I have to take three different pills for my disorders: one for ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder), one for anxiety, and one for depression. If I don’t take them on a regular basis, the chemicals in my head get unbalanced and I turn into a totally different person. If I go without them for any longer than a day or so, I start going through withdraws.

I was diagnosed with ADD when I was seven years old. Then, when I was thirteen, I was diagnosed with anxiety, depression, and PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder).

The depression and anxiety are brought on by the PTSD. The medication helps to bring a balance while the therapy I’m in helps me find new ways of coping.

Each day is a constant struggle for me. Some days I get depressed or start having a panic attack over little things. Other days, I’m just the happiest person one could ever meet.

Mental illness is often stigmatized by peers simply because certain behavior is not understood by others. This sometimes leads to bullying, which can increase anxieties and deeper depression of those affected. Knowledge and awareness are key elements in understanding the many people in today’s society who struggle daily to overcome the different levels of their mental illnesses.

My goal, as a young adult with multiple mental illnesses, is to bring awareness to today’s youth struggling with them.

Most people, that don’t have some form of mental illness, usually don’t understand how those suffering feel. However, there are people who can empathize with others through their own experiences.

I know it’s not easy. I know that each day can bring an internal battle. I also know how hard it can be to get out of bed in the morning or get motivated to do something simple such as putting on clothes for school. I know how hard it is to even force a smile, much less, make it a real one.

Most importantly, those affected by mental illness need to be reminded that they are loved and not alone.