You’re Not Crazy, Just Different

Your Perception Is Unique

The word crazy should be eliminated from the mental health community. It really serves no purpose besides reinforcing the stigma behind mental illness. There has never been a time in the mental health community where the word crazy served a useful purpose. All it does is label those who act differently than the rest of society. But has labeling ever accomplished anything useful in this world?

The truth of the matter is that people are going to continue to use the word crazy and there’s nothing we can really do besides advocate otherwise. But you shouldn’t get bothered by the fact that someone is labeling you as crazy; just brush it off and move on with your life. The more we remain strongly united in the mental health community, the easier it will become to shake off the many attacks that prevail.

The beauty about mental health is that there are many differences among us. We are trained to believe that having a mental illness is all bad; that’s it for you, you’re done for! But it’s quite the opposite. Many people who come to terms with their mental illness find a new love for themselves and some even claim to experience more energy and creativity, in a good and healthy way (not the manic kind).

These differences are what is going to continue to unite us in the mental health world, but we need to step up to the plate and embrace our differences on a global scale. The more people that we can touch, the easier it will become to have the many who are ashamed and embarrassed of their mental illness come out of the shadows. Can you imagine the day when the world will no longer associate a mental illness with a stigma?

I know that many of you continue to suffer on a daily basis because of your mental illness, and I feel your struggle, but you have to also find a way to discover the beauty behind your altered perception of reality. If you continue to dwell on the negativity associated with your mental illness, you are only giving it more power and energy to keep haunting you.

In my previous article, I talked about the importance of learning how to take back control of your mind. Now I’m taking it a step further; the importance of recognizing and connecting with your differences and unique perception and really tapping into them so that you can harness the good that lies beyond. The truth is that I have no way to teach you how to do that; you have to learn it for yourself.

At the end of the day, remember that there is no such thing as “crazy;” it’s just another label thrown around by mankind to help contribute to division and hatred. Everyone is different and that’s what makes this world beautiful.