We survived four years of high school. We lived through all of the pain. We sought our treatment. We managed. But even more, we were happy about it.

Now, we're adults. There is no guidebook. Cute Tumblr posts won't help us live through all the adult issues that we now face. No one can lend a listening ear that gets you to the doctor's appointment you don't want to go through.

There is no one to tell us to change our clothes. There's no one to tell us to get out of bed. No one regulates our food or sleep schedule. No one is there to stop us from buying razors, lighters, cigarettes, pills. No one is there to buy our medication, or put us through therapy. We are expected to be productive members of society all on our own.

When we are drowning, or suffocating, or hanging on by a thread, there is not a constant reminder in our houses of why we can't let go. There is no automatic repercussions to skipping a couple college classes, or neglecting to fill out job applications for a week.

We are on our own.

To those who don't suffer mental illness, please listen.

It is hard to hold a normal job. It is hard to go to class. It is hard to get out of bed. It is hard to go online or make a phone call to pay a bill. It is hard to reply to emails. it is hard for us to get moving. It is hard for us to keep the ball rolling once we've been moving.

There needs to be a better understanding of mental illness, how it effects our citizens, and better care for all of us. Too many of us are in jail because they were too poor to be diagnosed. Too many of us are homeless because there is little to no help for our needs. Those who are disabled to get help. Those who have been hurt on the job get help. Those who are too old to work get help. We need help. Maybe we don't need Social Security, but we need help.

We need screenings for mental health issues. We need cheaper medication. We need more research in this field. We need more affordable therapy. We need publicity for therapy. We need to stop the negative stereotypes portrayed around therapy. We need to get rid of the stigma that surrounds those of us who are mentally ill.

We are not crazy. We are not overly-clean. We are not people who kill or murder relentlessly. We are not seeking attention. We are not lazy. We are human.

I am a human being.

I am a human being and I deserve to be given kindness and understanding around situations that I cannot control.

I should not be forced to go without when I cannot afford.

I do not deserve to be a Facebook meme. I do not deserve to be treated with disrespect.

I have a chemical imbalance in my brain. I am not a bad person.

There needs to be something that teaches me how to function correctly as an adult before you cast your judgmental gaze over me.