Mental illnesses are caused by chemical imbalances in the brain. It is not something anyone can control. So why are we still shaming those who take medications for their chemical imbalance?

I was diagnosed with depression in October of 2015. I went through thirteen different medications before I found the one that worked with my body. Everybody is different. Not every medication works the same for every person that tries it. I worked hard and pushed through all thirteen of those medications to get to where I am today.

It wasn't easy. But it was worth it.

I knew something was wrong with my body and my brain and that it wasn't just something that could change with a mindset.

Not everything can be solved with a bubble bath and ice cream. Some things are much deeper than the surface. You owe it to yourself to get the help you need.

When you tell someone "just think happy thoughts," or "stop being so down all the time," or even "it's all in your head," you are the reason that so many lose hope and end their lives.

Medication isn't for everyone. But for many, it helps tremendously. I don't even want to know what my life would be like if I didn't have my medications.

It helps me out of the bed every morning.

Do I like being dependent on a pill to live? No. But do I take it anyways in hopes that one day I will be OK without it? Yes. It is what keeps me going. I can't just stop taking them and expect to be perfectly fine.

It's a chemical imbalance, it doesn't work like that.

When you break your arm, it is an injury that people can see. That people can understand.

Just because you can't see my injury, doesn't mean you shouldn't take the time to understand it. It's real and it's there.