The day begins with me waking up, staring at the ceiling, not sure of how I could possibly make it through this day.

I get ready slowly with barely any energy to brush my hair. I skip breakfast. I drive to school with EDM music at the highest volume, trying to release some nerves before I begin my shift.

I drive slightly faster than the speed limit because that relieves stress as well.

Sometimes, throughout my shift, I think of ways I could just get back into my bed for hours. Not even to sleep, just to be alone.

But I know this behavior isn't healthy. I talk to my coworkers, without actually talking. I don't tell them how eager I am to just not be needed anymore.

The shift is finally over and I head home knowing that I'll have to see my family soon. I'll have to tell them about my day when all I want to do is be alone in my room.

I know they just care, love, and miss me, but I really just want to be alone. I begin to dread the thought of going home, not because home is bad, but because home means interaction.

Real interaction, I can't talk about work for hours at home.

My friends ask to hang out, and I constantly make excuses for why I can't see them. It's too hard to say, "I don't feel like it", because that sounds rude. However, thinking about more interaction makes my body feel exhausted.

The idea of going out and having to put on my happy facade seems unbearable. I really don't feel like it.

I go to bed, and sometimes I have a good day the next day. But sometimes I have a day just like this one.

Mental illness is something that many people joke about, which shouldn't be disregarded so easily. People with mental illness are often mocked and treated as less than human due to something they have no control over.

It's almost as if people think I woke up one morning and decided to have anxiety or depression.

As someone who has been in and out of therapy my whole life, I understand that not everyone is considerate of the feelings of others. However, I don't understand how people can make fun of these people that are hurting because of their illness.

For instance, I received a text the other day saying, "Stop acting so bipolar", as if it was a choice. As if I could decide to stop having my mood swings.

Also, the depression stereotype has got to end. Depression doesn't just mean that someone sleeps all day. Depression has a plethora of symptoms, such as loss of appetite, loss of concentration, fatigue, hopelessness, etc.

It's a serious condition that often leads to very painful thoughts.

Living with a mental illness is difficult enough without people making you feel bad about having the illness. In all honesty, that just adds another reason to the list of why I sometimes didn't feel good enough to be around.

Not every person struggling is as open as me; some people are trying to fight their battles on their own. People should treat each other with respect in general, but when you're telling someone that they're crazy after they already think they're crazy, it just adds salt to the wounds.

Let's also not mock coping mechanisms anymore. If a person is spiraling out of control and they need to read a book to calm down, then let them read the book! Don't try to overstep and say that you know what's best for them because you probably don't.