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This Is Why Mental Illness Kills So Many People

Fighting a battle against yourself is never easy.

Erika Glover

Nov 27, 2017

Bowling Green State University

401

This Is Why Mental Illness Kills So Many People

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“You have cancer.”

The three words no one ever wants to hear. The three words that change the course of your life in seconds. The three words that make the world stop spinning for a moment.

Your life is now in danger. You have no control. You have a life-threatening illness. Now what?

You will do everything in your power to help yourself get better. You will get the chemotherapy for your cancer. You will pay to have the best doctor around. You will do whatever it takes to get you better. If you’re family, you will do anything possible to help your loved one get better. If you are diagnosed with cancer, the support system that forms around you is massive. People bring so much food to your home that you cannot possibly consume all of it. The amount of support and love and home warming baskets that are given to your family are innumerable. Surviving cancer is a group effort. You don’t go through cancer by yourself.

Now picture this.

“You are suicidal.”

The three words no one ever wants to hear. The three words that change the course of your life in seconds. The three words that make the world stop spinning for a moment.

Your life is now in danger. You have no control. You have a life-threatening illness. Now what?

You can only do so much to help yourself get better. You will get the therapy for your illness. You will try to pay you to have the best doctor around. You will do whatever it takes to get you better, but your head isn’t all the way there. Your heart is in it, but you are fighting the battle against yourself. You put on a smile, so maybe your loved ones won’t notice, but inside you are fighting a war just to get out of bed. If you are diagnosed with a mental illness, the support system isn’t there. People don’t see your pain, they don’t see your suffering, and so there isn’t the love and support. Surviving mental illness is an individual effort. You go through your thoughts alone.

But you shouldn’t.

That is why mental illness kills so many people.

If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts, reach out. You are not alone. Reach out.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Call 1-800-273-8255

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

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This Is Why Mental Illness Kills So Many People

Fighting a battle against yourself is never easy.

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May the odds be ever in your favor.

Phase One: The “I got this” phase

Phase Two: The “I have time” phase

Phase Three: The uncontrollable sobbing phase

Phase Four: The “help me, I've fallen and I can't get up” phase

Phase Five: The rejoicing phase

10 ways to prepare for finals week—beginning with getting to the library.

Who knows where we would be without them.

1. Thank you for laughing at my jokes, even when they really aren’t funny.

2. Thank you for singing unbearably loud with me all the time.

3. Thank you for letting me vent to you for hours about anything and basically being my personal therapist.

4. Thank you for ordering pizza with me at 2 in the morning.

5. Thank you for all the movie days when we don’t feel like moving.

6. Thank you for being my workout buddy everyday.

7. Thank you for sharing your closets with me.

8. Thank you for taking naps with me at random hours during the day.

9. Thank you for cleaning our home with me when we absolutely need to.

10. Thank you for all the rides when it’s late and you don’t want me to walk home alone in the dark.

11. Thank you for studying with me in our kitchen when we didn't want to go the library.

12. Thank you for making dinner with me.

13. Thank you for helping with my hair, makeup and outfit every time we go out.

14. Thank you for taking countless ugly pictures with me.

15. Thank you for not judging me when I go too long without showering.

16. Thank you for making our apartment feel like a second home.

17. Thank you for being there through all of our boy troubles.

18. Thank you for giving me a hug when I feel homesick.

19. Thank you for getting excited with me when one of us gets a good grade on an exam.

20. Thank you for still being my friend and not judging me when I say or do dumb things.

21. Thank you for telling me what I should do when I am sick.

22. Thank you for dancing horribly with me everywhere we go.

23. Thank you for staying up super late with me when we aren’t tired or can’t sleep.

24. Thank you for being super weird with me.

25. Thank you for all the unforgettable college memories.

26. And most of all, thank you for being the best friends a girl could have.

I may or may not be stressing right now.

1. "What do I have to study for?"

2. "What class do I need to study for the most?"

3. "I’m going to ace this."

4. "Focus!"

5."I have no idea what I'm reading."

6. "I should call my smart friend about this."

7. "I’m going to fail. I’m going to fail."

8. "I’m dropping out of school."

9. "What grade do I have to get on the final to pass the class?"

10. "Oh, no, I have to do good."

11. "I shouldn’t have procrastinated all semester."

12. "I wanna go to bed."

13. "We did not learn this!"

14. "I should go get food."

15. "Why do we even have finals?"

16. "I don’t want to be at the library."

17. "Get off your phone."

18. "I can watch Netflix for like 20 minutes and then go back to studying."

19. "I shouldn’t have watched Netflix."

20. "You have to study now!"

The "Happiest Place on Earth" has a lot of characters with some pretty great advice.

Remember you’re the one who can fill the world with sunshine. — Snow White

The past can hurt. But the way I see it, you can either run from it or learn from it. — Rafiki

You don't have time to be timid. You must be bold and daring. — Lumière

If watching is all you're gonna do, then you're gonna watch your life go by without ya. — Laverne

Sometimes the right path is not the easiest one. — Grandmother Willow

Always let your conscience be your guide. — Jiminy Cricket

To infinity and beyond. — Buzz Lightyear

Life is a journey to be experienced, not a problem to be solved. — Pooh

Let it go. — Elsa

If you can't say something nice, don't say nothin' at all. — Thumper

Today's special moments are tomorrow's memories. — Genie

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