*Possible trigger warning.

There is such a stigma with mental illnesses that for four years I was scared to even talk about mine or acknowledge that I had one, in fear of the repercussions. A few months ago I realized I needed to stop lying to myself and to others about my mental illness, and when I told a few close friends, many were less than supportive. They just simply didn't care, much like the rest of society. If you suffer from a mental illness, you're pretty much cast aside because people don't want to deal with you. No one wants to hear your story and advocate for mental health awareness, unless a beloved celebrity comes forwards about theirs. But unless you're famous, no one cares. People think because you're physically fine that you should be able to get over it. But the truth is, you can't just simply get over it. It affects your everyday life, sometimes making it extremely hard to even get out of bed to go to class or to go out with friends. You lack motivation to do the things you once loved and because everyone sees you as mentally unstable, you start to believe everything they say about you. But if someone comes to you for support, to help, they trust you, so don't ever repeat what some people have actually said to me.

"Just be happy." Wow, thank you. I'll take that into consideration and pencil it in to my schedule, and I'm sure I'll be happy starting tomorrow at the latest.

"There are people out there who have it worse than you." OK here's the thing, I actually think about that a lot. I know I'm in no position to feel this way, but that doesn't change the fact that I have a mental illness that makes me think the worst about my situation.

"Just get the help you need." It honestly shocks me that someone said this to me, as if I had no idea I needed help.

"You're insane." Wow! Thanks so so so much for saying that. That definitely won't affect my view of myself whatsoever!

"Can't you just get medications?" Yes, yes I can. I do in fact have some, but contrary to popular belief they don't just make it all disappear magically.

"Get over it." Let me get right on that, after all I've been dealing with this for four years, but I'll make the exception just because you told me to "get over it."

"What you're doing to yourself isn't healthy." Thank you, I know that.

"Just stop overthinking everything." I had not thought of that before! If only I had just thought of that, I wouldn't be in this situation. Thank you for personally saving me.

"But you don't seem depressed." OK!

"Well, I have a mental illness and mine's worse than yours." OK, but I only just told you about mine, I wasn't aware of yours and by no means was I trying to one-up you. I didn't realize having a mental illness was now a competition.

"Stop overreacting." You're right, let me just turn off everything I'm thinking right now with the flick of a switch.

"Just open up to me more." OK let me get right on that. I'm sure I can get over four years of hiding my mental illness and just spill everything to you in the span of one night.

"The only person you can blame this on is yourself." Great! Thanks!

"Don't make a situation out of nothing." OK, but do you have any other great tips, like maybe how to stop doing that?

"You're so dramatic." Maybe I should be a drama major then, thanks for inspiring me.

"I think you're being selfish." Cool, I didn't really ask.

"Think about how this will effect others." WHAT?

"You can't just do this to me." What exactly am I personally doing to you? I simply told you what I was going through...

"I don't know what to say." Me either, thanks.

"If you're going to kill yourself, do it in my dorm so I can get free tuition." I am not lying about this, I was actually told this when I told someone at school I have anxiety and depression. This isn't funny in ANY context.

"You're driving me crazy." LOL, me too fam, me too.