The first step is to eliminate the stigma. Person. Not diagnosis.
It’s not a choice. It’s something a person is born with.
You’re not crazy and you’re certainly not a “psycho”.
“You are not your illness. You have an individual story to tell. You have a name, a history, a personality. Staying yourself is part of the battle.”
You know that extreme feeling of nervousness before a huge presentation? Imagine feeling so anxious that it ultimately affects your day-to-day living. Imagine feeling so anxious all the time and there is absolutely nothing you can do to control it. How would you feel? This is anxiety disorder.
Girls, you know when it’s “that time of the month” and you feel as if you have no control of your emotions causing instability? Imagine having distinct, yet short term, mood swings that involve extreme depression, irritability, and/or anxiety. Imagine never being able to maintain an interpersonal relationship because you’re constantly alternating between idealization and devaluation. Imagine having constant paranoia because it feels as if everyone is out to get you. How would you feel? This is borderline personality disorder.
You know when you’re writing notes, in pen, and you make a mistake then “need” to start all over? Imagine having intrusive and irrational thoughts circling your mind 24/7. Imagine having to wash your hands after touching anything and everything. Imagine feeling like you have to repeat an activity over and over because if you don’t, something bad will happen to someone you love. How would you feel? This is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.
Although there are many other serious mental illnesses among us, this is to help put it in perspective. It’s very similar to a natural disaster. It’s something an innocent human has absolutely no control over.
It takes a tremendous amount of courage for someone to not only admit to themselves that they suffer from a mental illness, but it takes even more to admit it to a friend.
Don’t judge someone based off of your misunderstanding. It’s one thing to try to imagine how a person with a mental illness feels but it’s another thing to live it.
If you feel lonely, speak up. If you feel sad for any reason or no reason at all, speak up. If you feel like no one in this world understands you, speak up.
“Never apologize for being sensitive or emotional. Let this be a sign that you’ve got a big heart and aren’t afraid to let others see it. Showing your emotions is a sign of strength.”
If you suspect that your friend is not ok, then you need to speak up. Showing affection, concern, and taking time to be there for a person, suffering from a mental illness, means more to them than you can ever imagine.
If you have a friend that comes to you and wants your support it is your job, as a friend, to show them love and support. You’re labeled their friend for a reason. Don’t abandon this person. They’re not asking for anything. They just want your support. Abandoning someone who is reaching out for help only makes you look narrow-minded and insubstantial. In other words, you’re not their friend.
I’m not perfect and I have many flaws too. But I know one thing for sure, if you suffer from a mental illness, any mental illness, I am here for you. If you want someone to talk to and support you, I am here for you. Believe it or not, there are a lot of people willing to help you. You just need to speak up.
Be thankful for what you are now, and keep fighting for what you want to be tomorrow. You’re not alone.
Thank you, Chloe Deranek and Kaitlyn Tarullo, for going above and beyond in organizing Support a Belle, Love a Belle this year. Your actions and effort in bringing Saint Mary’s students together is commended. Raising mental health awareness is so important, especially among college students. If you see Chloe or Kaitlyn around campus, thank them and congratulate them.
“Support a Belle, Love a Belle is Saint Mary’s Mental Illness Awareness week on campus. SABLAB’s goal is to raise awareness about mental health issues that college students experience on a daily basis. This awareness is raised through education about mental health in various forms such as handouts and events. SABLAB’s goal is largely to show girls the community that they have surrounding them, to be a beacon for hope.”
Photos provided by the author
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