Mental health is just as important as physical health, and we, as a whole, need to start recognizing this as the fact that it truly is.

So many people are trapped inside their own minds with nothing but negativity constantly following them around. Because of the stigma society has created around mental illnesses, opening up and getting the help that is truly needed and deserved tends to be quite difficult for many people, including me.

Yes, you read that correctly. I, the honors student with top-notch grades, the member of multiple clubs and teams, the friend who is always going out of her way to make others laugh, in no way, have a perfect life, although I often find myself trying to pretend that I do.

It's safe to say I'm a perfectionist, and just about anyone you ask can confirm this. I care about my grades, and I give 100% at everything I do. Whether I'm at school, or an extracurricular activity, I'm always pushing myself to be the best. It's obviously good to put yourself outside of your comfort zone so you can get better, but at times I can get carried away. I don't allow myself to make mistakes.

As soon as I do the smallest thing wrong, I just get so upset with myself, which doesn't fix anything. Instead of allowing myself to do things wrong so I can do better next time, I just get mad at myself for the simplest mistakes that anyone could've made. I was blind to the problem at first, but later realized I shouldn't be as unhappy as I was on a daily basis.

When did this all start? I truly can't answer that question. I obviously didn't let school become more important than my health when I was in kindergarten, but there was never a specific point where this all began. I slowly changed from a happy student, who did her best at everything she's ever tried, to a miserable person who cared about nothing more than grades and class rank.

It's true that school has been the root of my problems, but that's not necessarily the only contributor. Between other people and my need to know their opinions of me, and just plain irrational fears that come along with my mental illness, there are countless other ways that depression and anxiety make themselves known in my day to day life.

There is a thin line between being motivated and trying to be successful, and making your life a living hell. I have most definitely crossed this line, and I want nothing more than to go back.

Asking for help can be seen as one of the most difficult things ever, and it's certainly not easy, but I overcame the fear of being looked at differently because of my illness. I told my family and got the help I've wanted and needed all along. Was it hard to talk about something that I've kept bottled up for years? Of course, but it was also worth the help I was, and still am, being given. I opened up, but so many other people still silently struggle with their mental health everyday, and only a fraction of them will end up reaching out for the help they need. The stigma that mental health is less important than physical health needs to be ended. I mean, your brain, a.k.a. the most important organ in your body, is what is primarily affected, so why shouldn't it get the attention it deserves? It isn't seen as the patients fault when a physical illness is involved, so a mental illness shouldn't be any different.

I used to add to the negativity surrounding mental illnesses by hiding my own and being like everyone else that thinks it is something to be ashamed of, but I'm done doing this.

I am a person who deals with depression and anxiety, and I'm working towards a healthy mindset. I'm sick of the people who hinder this by viewing me differently when I open up to them about my mental illness. People with mental illnesses aren't any different than anyone else, so there's no need to treat them that way.

As a society, we are responsible for the bad reputation people are sometimes given due to a mental illness, so we, as a society need to take action and end the stigma that we have created, as well.