Mentally Ill And Proud Of It

My Brain, My Choice

As each year passes, more and more people open up to the idea that having a mental illness is not the end of the world. For too long, mental health has prevailed in the underground world, only coming out at night out of fear of ridicule and embarrassment during the day. But finally, people are starting to realize that they are mentally ill and proud of it; their brain, their choice!

Times have changed; no more hiding in your bedroom suffering from a mental illness, afraid to come out to seek help. The medical environment is viewing mental health with more passion and concern; jokes such as “go see a psychiatrist” and “I’m sure the shrink will take care of you” are out the window.

Psychiatry is much more respected nowadays. Medical students have broadened their horizons and are now aggressively applying to psychiatry residencies all over the United States. Psychiatry is no longer considered an easy field to match into as a medical student. This goes to prove how the modern generation is much more interested and compassionate about mental health.

The exciting thing about mental health these days is not only that patients have more access to medications and therapy, but they are more confident to seek these resources. When confidence increases, you put yourself in a much better position to treat your mental illness, than when confidence is low while hiding in your home.

Who is mentally ill and proud of it? If you are reading this right now and you believe that you are, then you have taken the first step in the road to success: being honest with yourself. Next comes the second step: being honest with others. And finally, the third step: being honest with the world. Overall, be honest.

One thing to keep in mind is that you cannot force someone with a mental illness to get treatment; their brain, their choice! But, if a person is a danger to himself or another, then treatment should be enforced. It’s never okay to not report a suicidal or homicidal patient to the authorities. When lives are at risk, treatment is absolutely necessary!

Therefore, the more that we open up the mental health dialogue, the more access we will have to each other’s minds. And the more access that we have, the easier it will become to bridge our ideas, thoughts, feelings and patterns of behavior. And when this happens, the world will become a more connected place, universally.

Are you Ready? (This is Defeating Stigma Mindfully)