Mental Illness

Mental Illness.

Yesterday, I stopped by the gas station as I always do on my way to the gym.

I got my Diet Coke (44 ounce).

I went to pay for it and my good friend, the cashier man, just looked at me and said:
"I've got problems. I have mental illness. I've tried to cope with it through different methods. Now, I'm stuck in those methods. And people make it worse. They tell me to get over it. They make me feel like I've done something wrong to deserve mental illness. And it's exhausting."

First of all!

How grateful am I that I was the person in that gas station at that moment for him to be able to talk about what was in his mind so big and so dark that he had to get it out.

Second of all!
I thanked him for telling me and I told him that I have mental illness and that it's not something to be embarrassed about or to be ashamed of. I reminded him that most of the people who make him feel differently probably have mental illness as well, but they are putting on a facade to get through their lives.

Third of all!

WHY?!

Why in 2020 are we still acting as if mental illness is some kind of something that no one can talk about?

Why are people with mental illness looked at differently - as if they are less than?

If you don't have mental illness of any kind, you are fortunate.

1 in 4 people have serious mental illness.

1 in 4!!!

I have Depression and Anxiety.

Did I do things in my life to "deserve" that?
Hell no.

I am living with Depression and Anxiety.

I am on medication - have been for 25 years.

I take CBD to supplement the medication.

I see my neuro team at least once a month - this includes counseling.

Let's talk about this!

Be available to those who need to talk about it!

Judge less.

Love more.