Being an advocate for mental illness will surely never bring you; ‘Citizen of the Year Award.’ Quite the contrary really, it’s an illness that is not viewed as an ‘illness’ but to many, a weakness, a character flaw. But I want to bring the truth about this illness to light. It is my determination to break down the walls of stigma and ignorance, that surround mental illness. I do realize there are those who will never truly understand the full extent of this illness and that’s okay, but I write for those who know exactly what I’m talking about.
It seems like forever that I’ve been living with this illness, a lifetime. It’s strange how some view mental illness with a time limit attached. If you’re suffering from depression then in two or three months you’ll be better. Yes and for some that can be true; if that depression is diagnosed as mild. But what if you are “living with”, yes I mean everyday, a chronic, major, clinical depression; it doesn’t just go away. There’s nothing I would want more but its not a choice. Not unlike someone living with diabetes or some other chronic illness, we have to learn to live with and manage it’s symptoms on a daily basis. The illness comes with so much stigma, misunderstanding, misconceptions and ignorance and the only way to fight back is by speaking out. By speaking out, I’m not a victim, I’m a survivor! A quote by Alex Elle sums it up nicely; ‘You’re not a victim for sharing your story, you are a survivor setting the world on fire with your truth. And you never know who needs your light, your warmth and raging courage.’ When I’m having a really bad day, that light is pretty dim (but it is still there), my warmth is fairly cool but not cold and my raging courage is dwindled to a faint spark (remember it only takes a spark to get a fire going). But do I give up? No, I keep going, no matter what. By not giving up, that is what makes me strong when I am weak, hopeful when I am hopeless, fearless when I am fearful and a strength that keeps going. And if I can do this, you can too! I believe in you!
Throughout the past years of my illness, I have openly shared every aspect of my mental illness through my blog; www.harrislisa72.com. If you would like to learn more about mental illness and gain a better understanding, become more educated on the topic and open your minds to this silent, stigmatized and misunderstood illness. Then please read my blogs on mental illness. This quote sums up what I’ve been trying to say, ‘For those who understand, no explanation is needed. For those who do not understand, no explanation is possible.’ And that’s where I’ll leave it!