From a young age, we are taught to put on a band-aid if we get a cut. We are taught to put ice on a twisted ankle and to hold a burn under cold water. When we get the flu, we are taken to the doctor and given medication. We are listened to and cared for. We know that we are not at fault for our ailments. No one can help catching a virus or falling down and scraping a knee, right?
Why can’t we tell ourselves the same thing when the illness we are facing is mental, rather than physical? Just like our bodies can’t always help being injured or ill, neither can our minds. Mental illness is real and it is powerful. It is simply harder to see. When someone breaks an arm, they wear a cast. When someone cuts their hand while cooking, they get stitches. When someone sprains an ankle, they get crutches. We see these things and make a mental note, “Okay, that person is injured.” But mental illness is not so easily detected. Depression cannot be healed with a cast. Anxiety-ridden thoughts cannot be eliminated with stitches. Bi-polar disorder will not diminish with crutches. This should not cause us to assume that because the body is not hurt, the person is okay.
The stigma that claims mental illnesses are less severe and less important must cease to exist. 1 in 5 adults in the U.S. have or will have a mental illness at some point in their lives. That equates to over 40 million Americans. Mental illnesses are physical in nature. They are caused by an imbalance of chemicals in the brain.
When dealing with a mental illness, however, it is difficult to remind yourself of that. People with mental health problems often feel an immense amount of guilt. It’s easy to look at one’s life and say, “I have a family that loves me, a roof over my head, and food to eat,” and although remembering that there is plenty to be grateful for is important, it is also important to remember that none of that has anything to do with a mental illness. Just as you can be satisfied in life and catch a cold, you can be satisfied in life and still have a mental illness.
To anyone who deals with a mental illness, remember that you are not at fault. You are not selfish because you feel off even when everything else seems fine. You are not weak. You are especially not weak for seeking help or taking medication. You are sick, and you deserve the same treatment as someone who’s sickness is more obvious. You are so strong. Our minds are everything. They are how we perceive the world around us. Our entire being is housed within them, and for you to get up every day and fight, that is something to be proud of.
We need to stop apologizing. We need to recognize that mental illnesses are just that- illnesses. They are no less severe or difficult than physical ailments. Celebrate the little accomplishments. Did you get out of bed and get dressed today? Good job! Did you eat something? Did you get out of the house? Be proud of these little victories because although others may not know what it takes to accomplish them, you do, and you did it. And I for one, am proud of you.
