I Am Tired Of: A Reflection on Mental Illness

I am not ashamed of saying that I have a mental illness.

I am tired of being treated differently because of my mental illness. It is something that is very difficult to control, but that does not make it right to treat me differently than any other human being. I am, after all, a human being.

I am tired of people treating mental illness differently than physical illness. My mental illness is a chronic and sometimes debilitating illness caused by issues in the brain. My brain causes me to have hallucinations when the signals are not working correctly. Just because my illness causes me to act "crazy" sometimes does not give others the right to mock me, make fun of me or ignore me.

I am tired of people avoiding me because of my mental illness. I wish more people approached me and asked me questions instead of avoiding me. The avoidance of others causes me to become more lonely which leads to depression. My mental illness is something I struggle with, but it does not define me. It is not who I am; it is merely a part of my life.

I am tired of people with mental illness being negatively portrayed in the media. Not every person with mental illness acts out or wants to hurt others. Personally, I have volunteered thousands of hours for various organizations and charities. I have dedicated my life to helping others and making a difference in this world.

I am tired of people with mental illness being stuck in hospitals and state mental institutions. People with mental illness have just as much to offer this world as people without mental illness. I make this point because I was recently almost placed in a state mental institution. I do not think that hospitals and state mental institutions are the answer to everyone who has mental illness. Though I have a very serious mental illness, I have a lot to offer this world.

I am tired of people with mental illness being seen and treated as "crazy" simply because others are ignorant. As someone who struggles with mental illness, I have come across this. People avoid me or mock me because they just do not know about mental illness. It hurts. I am not crazy. I am someone who has a brain that does not always work the way it was supposed to.

I am tired of others seeing the negativity of mental illness instead of the positive aspects of it. Even though it is very difficult to live with mental illness, I see many positive aspects of living with mental illness. I have an insane amount of creativity and I come up with solutions to problems all the time. I am very talented in music and art.

I am tired of people thinking that the struggles that many people with mental illness go through are their fault. Many people with mental illness are homeless, not by their own choice, but because it is difficult for them to hold a job. Medications are expensive. Even when taking medications, sometimes the mental illness can be resistant to the medications. Being mentally ill is not a choice. It's something that millions struggle with.

I am tired of stigmas stopping people from getting the help they should. Many times, it is a battle even to get the treatments necessary to heal and move forward. People may look upon seeking therapy as a weakness, but I believe that some of the strongest and healthiest people in our world are those who go to therapy. Getting the necessary treatments should not be looked down upon.

I am tired of people with mental illness being ashamed to speak out against the stigmas or to speak about what it is like to live with mental illness. Mental illness is nothing to be ashamed of. It is something to be embraced. Everyone with mental illness deserves to be loved, appreciated, accepted and cared for. We deserve the same rights as those who do not have mental illness.

Each day, people with mental illness struggle to live. It is a constant battle, especially with those who do not understand what it is like to live with mental illness. I hope that those without mental illness take the time to try to understand what having mental illness is like. A lot of good can come out of all the storms in life.