Why we need to talk about mental illness

I have anxiety. I used to be ashamed of it and would attempt to hide it from everyone, only my nearest and dearest knew. I didn't want people to know because I was scared of what people would think or say. I was worried for being judged for something I cannot help.

I shudder when I see articles online about a suicide or mental illness, don't get me wrong, I am glad these issues are in the public sphere and people are taking notice because mental illness is something we do need to talk about but I hate to see the comments on the likes of Facebook about it. There are supportive comments, and I love reading them but you also have the ignorant comments. Comments that are dangerous and stereotypical. Comments that can make people with a mental illness not speak up.

Mental health needs to be understood. It is a topic that many people do not understand. I have anxiety and I have been told that I only go to the doctor 'to get high' when I get anti - anxiety medication and I can 'pull myself out'. It is not that simple. People with a mental illness be it anxiety, depression, bipolar or schizophrenia want nothing more than their illness to disappear, much like a cancer patient or a diabetic. I have never seen anyone tell those people to 'pull themselves out of it' or that they are weak or attention seekers. If it is not okay for physical illness, why is it okay for mental illness? To put it simply it's not.

We really need to normalise mental illness. We need to see it for what it is - an illness. We need to support anyone with any sort of mental health condition to enable them to live as well as they can. We need to support community centres offering mental health support and most importantly, not judge someone for having a mental health condition. We need to keep the conversation going so that anyone with a mental health condition feels like they are not alone. I have recently read some blog posts on mental illness - in particular anxiety - and it has helped immeasurably. How much better would people with a mental illness feel if the stigma was taken away? If they saw people talking about it? If it was treated as any other illness?

Yesterday was a bad day for my anxiety. It happens and I push through and know that I will come out the other side. Twitter can be marvellous for that. I had some good conversations with people about what we can all do to improve our mental health. Yesterday may have been bad, today may also be bad but do you know what? It will end. The bad days will end. The anxiety will disappear and all will be good again. Is the anxiety always going to be an issue? maybe. Maybe not. Is anxiety part of me? yes Is anxiety all who I am? Absolutely not.