I don't think there is a simple way to describe the flames of rage that ignite inside me when I realize the way mental illnesses have become so negatively stigmatized in our society.

There are so many common misconceptions about mental illness, ranging from people believing they aren't real disorders to others who say you can talk yourself out of an anxiety attack/episode. Im here to enlighten you clearly uninformed individuals who contribute to this mental illness shaming.

First of all, no one in this world who could control whether or not they are depressed, anxious or whatever else would choose to deal with the emotional exhaustion that comes out of the constant highs and lows. One moment you can be smiling with friends discussing the scandal of the night before and the next you can be alone in your room feeling as though the world started deteriorating faster than the speed of light. There is nothing more unsettling or terrifying as not being able to control your mental state and well being, so stop saying it's something people choose, exaggerate or make up, you're ignorant.

Second of all, there is nothing that will get you a dirtier look or risk a slap across the face than telling a person that has a mental illness that it is all in their head, that they can just ignore it. YES we know it's in our heads, that is why it is called a mental illness.

I'm not sure if you think we're also uneducated, but we know where our brain is located, thank you. Also, we in no way, shape or form control the attacks we suffer from. A lot of us may not even know what our triggers are that bring the onset of paranoia and panic, it just sort of happens, we can't just talk ourselves out of it.

Third, please don't tell me, or anyone else who suffers from anxiety, depression, etc., that what we are dealing with isn't real. Unless you are inside of my head (news flash: you're not) you have absolutely no right to tell me what I am and am not feeling or whether or not it's valid. Besides, your opinion doesn't matter to me nor should it to anyone else who suffers; your negative vibes are not needed here, thanks.

I just don't understand why in this age of development and acceptance that the word mental illness has to be such a taboo. My anxiety doesn't make me any lower on the totem poll than the next person who doesn't suffer from a mental illness, nor does it mean that I am some sort of unstable, threatening member of society. Obviously the media has some role in this negative outlook on mental illnesses. We see it all too often in the news; stories of the mentally ill committing crimes like murder and that alone makes the label of mentally ill into a sentence of its own.

My anxiety does not define me. In all honesty, I think that dealing with these struggles and facing my toughest demons has made me more of a fighter than I would be without my anxiety. I can't say that I don't miss a time where anxiety wasn't a part of my life, because things would surely be much simpler.

However, I've accepted this as something that I can't control, but can survive. So the next time you hear someone else or catch yourself speaking poorly of or making fun of the mentally ill, stop yourself and instead of mocking, ask questions and learn about it.

There is so much more to these disorders than you think and I'm content knowing that this could be a part of me forever, but it's a piece that I can use as a tool to help others, and that's fine by me.