People always ask me how I can be so open about having a mental illness, and I never understand why they would think like that. I didn’t chose to be this way, it was just something I was born with and had to learn to accept. You wouldn’t ask someone who was born without legs, “Why are you OK with people knowing you don’t have legs?” Obviously they didn’t ask for it, and they are living a full life, even if they aren’t the exact same as everyone else.

I have had many people come to me to talk about issues in their lives that deal with mental illness, anything from depression to suicide. I love knowing that I can help others get through their pain and suffering by using my own story. I almost feel like my illnesses are a gift that I can use to inspire others to keep pushing through the tough times and continue living their life just as anyone else would.

I would like to stress that just because I am different, doesn’t mean that I am different.

Everyone is unique and adjusts to situations in their own way. My mind is not like anyone else’s, but I refuse to say that I’m “strange” or “sick.” Yes, it is an illness, but I don’t accept the connotation from the word “sick."

I’m not saying that everyone has to be so open with their diagnoses. I understand how uncomfortable that can be, I used to be embarrassed of even thinking I could be depressed. However, it is nothing to be ashamed of. I believe I have found my creativity through bipolar disorder, it has inspired me to write, draw and sing because that’s a healthy outlet for my mind.

The best way to kill the stigma from any illness is to do research about it and be educated. Know all the side effects. Understand different medications. Realize that some people require pills, others just need some sort of outlet for them. And some people may need both. Every case is different. Take the time to learn about your friends who are suffering. What are some of their triggers? How can you help them out? Can you recognize a panic attack? I cannot stress enough how important all this is. Also, watch your phrasing. Saying “I’m depressed,” or, "This weather is so bipolar,” or, “That’s retarded” can be very offensive to a person. We no longer call things we think are dumb “gay," so why is it OK to use an illness in a negative way?

If you are reading this, and you feel like you are struggling, remember that you are not alone! There is someone else out there that feels the same, reach out to them. Reach out to me if you need, I would be more than happy to help you in your battle.

“I am not ashamed of my biology. I am ashamed of society and the stigma.” - Halfway 2 Hannah.