to some people they probably think ‘what does she have to be sad about’ but i don’t go around with a label on my head about my traumas or mental illness’, i don’t ever need to validate my mental health and then i remember, other’s judgmental opinions on me are not definitive.

it makes me frustrated when people think they have a right to comment on my mental illnesses! you’re not my psychiatrist? you’re not my therapist i speak to every week?

i take anti-depressants and anti-psychotics and just because i’m smiling some days doesn’t dismiss this.

i speak up and share, to help in the destigmatisation of the many stigmas that surround mental health/wellbeing

i share SOME of my experiences in the hope to help others, you don’t know the full story, you don’t have a right to comment on my circumstances.

i have been suicidal, i openly discuss this in the hope that it could show someone that they will get through the difficult times in their life.
i don’t share this information for self-attention or pity and it hurts me that people think THAT is why i do what i do.

i am OPEN about my mental health online (not in great depth) and i do a lot of hard work which i don’t publicly share online, maybe now and then i’ll discuss a conference i have presented at or that i have begun mental health training but i don’t glamorise mental health.

so, if you think to yourself ‘she never shuts up about that’ or ‘her life is fine’, you know nothing more about me besides what i publicly share (unless ur in my life lol), i will never stop trying to make change of stigmas and i am proud to be a mental health worker.

i live with my diagnosed mental illnesses every single second that i’m awake, just like all who have mental illness.

it’s challenging every single day, i have to push through each day, i have to fight my own mind every day

but that makes me unstoppable and i will carry on