The Battle Against Stigma

 

Having a mental illness, whether it be Depression, Anxiety Disorder, BPD, ADHD, PTSD etc., is a rollercoaster. Between the mood swings, the pain, the attacks, the self loathing, identity crisis, or whatever it may be, you always have enough on your plate to keep you occupied; sometimes making it near impossible to complete your daily tasks. Even worse so because no one understands all the error that you’ve put in to turn up to work, or classes, or maybe something simple as getting out of bed in the mornings, therefore, you’re constantly being scolded, chastised or shouted at for not doing something when you’re just doing the best you can. You may try to explain this to them but only a few who haven’t experienced it firsthand truly understands. 

Where I live, Jamaica, mental illnesses are, for the most part, trivialized. There’s a tie between using it in a derogatory manner or as a joke. Here, it’s difficult  get the help you need with there being very few resources, and no one to talk to. Here, mental illness is a taboo, with the only form acknowledged generally as being a disorder is schizophrenia. It may be mentioned a couple times during it’s yearly celebration but that is about it. No accommodations made, no leniency. It’s rather painful to witness and is even more so painful to experience. You’re made fun of because they don’t understand how you feel, because you’re different, labeling you as being crazy or weird. 

I could give anecdote after anecdote of me being trying prevent, or being half way through a mental breakdown, and having a coworker, family member or friend insensitively make fun of me for it. At this point, I don’t believe it’s not that they’re not aware, I believe it’s that they’re too scared to accept it. But why should we live in fear of speaking out or seeking because they don’t know how to handle us being different?

We have to start taking a stance for ourselves. We can’t constantly live in fear of being ostracized. This is the reason  I decided to start a blog, to say what needs to be said, to stand for what needs to be stood for, and I will not stop until change is initiated. We deserve change, we deserve help. Let’s Normalize Mental Illness!