So many of us are still affected by mental illness stigma and are scared to speak up or ask for help.
This week in the UK it is Mental Health Awareness Week and any awareness that may help people who have mental illnesses to feel that they can talk about it is a positive. For myself, every day is an opportunity to speak up about mental illness and I can do this because I have lived and managed mental health issues for the majority of my life and started to speak openly about it in 2008 when I was first diagnosed!
. I still do not 100% discuss what I manage and the stigma and discrimination that I have received over the years, however I can say that very little scares me about speaking up now and no attempts to keep me quiet will work.
I get many messages on Linked In, Facebook and Intstagram from people who either have a mental illness or care for or look after someone who has mental health issues and it saddens me each and every time that they feel genuine fear of being judged, ridiculed, losing people and even losing their job. I am in a unique position that in recent years I have lost almost everything due to having mental health and that holds so many fears for me either and so am free to speak up and especially about things that I had previously hidden and feared discussing?? yes I am because spealing about it not only helps me, but can engage many others and help many others to release that weight and burden upon their shoulders and hopefully if my messages and support can help just one person break free and stand up and speak out then I am doing my job just well. I know that this is mainly americans that use this site and yes its awarness week in the UK but lets raise awarness where ever you are in the world! lets keep this message going and keep the love flowing!! xx
This week in the UK it is Mental Health Awareness Week and any awareness that may help people who have mental illnesses to feel that they can talk about it is a positive. For myself, every day is an opportunity to speak up about mental illness and I can do this because I have lived and managed mental health issues for the majority of my life and started to speak openly about it in 2008 when I was first diagnosed!
. I still do not 100% discuss what I manage and the stigma and discrimination that I have received over the years, however I can say that very little scares me about speaking up now and no attempts to keep me quiet will work.
I get many messages on Linked In, Facebook and Intstagram from people who either have a mental illness or care for or look after someone who has mental health issues and it saddens me each and every time that they feel genuine fear of being judged, ridiculed, losing people and even losing their job. I am in a unique position that in recent years I have lost almost everything due to having mental health and that holds so many fears for me either and so am free to speak up and especially about things that I had previously hidden and feared discussing?? yes I am because spealing about it not only helps me, but can engage many others and help many others to release that weight and burden upon their shoulders and hopefully if my messages and support can help just one person break free and stand up and speak out then I am doing my job just well. I know that this is mainly americans that use this site and yes its awarness week in the UK but lets raise awarness where ever you are in the world! lets keep this message going and keep the love flowing!! xx
