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Mental Illness



Millions of people around the world struggle with mental illness. Depression, Post Traumatic Stress, Anxiety, Schizophrenia, Bipolar, etc. Living with mental illness is a struggle for both the sufferer, and their loved ones, especially if the sufferer does not have a successful treatment plan. It also does not help when the public is not educated about mental illness. Even though we live in the 21st Century, those with mental disorders are still ostracized in one way or another. While we have made strides in proper treatment for those with mental disorders, the success of the sufferer is up to the sufferer.

Many people, after diagnosis, go through some levels of denial, and even rebel against their diagnosis. The sufferers feel as if they can get through this on their own, or they believe that nothing is wrong with them. This is where a proper support system may actually help someone come to terms with their diagnosis.

Mental illness is hereditary, and a life-long battle. If you come from a family where just about everyone is suffering from disorders, finding a stable support system may be more of a challenge. For a person who is in this situation, it is not impossible to receive help. There are people that are a product of parents who have mental disorders, who do flourish in their lives. These people overcome the odds and become successful men and women. These people do have their moments, but, they are on proper treatment plans that lesson the mental illness episodes and their duration significantly.

However, when people find out that these men and women have mental disorders, they are still stigmatized. Either at work, or in their personal lives, these people come across the ignorance and fear from society. Society needs to become better educated about the reality of mental illness. Society needs to understand that not all people with mental illness are dangerous people. The danger comes from those who DON'T seek treatment. The disease has taken over the person. Basically, the sufferer is gone because the person decided to give up. Medication AND therapy can help the person fight their illness, and fight to be a worthwhile human being.

If you suspect that you may have a mental illness, do NOT let the disease take your humanity. Talk to someone, like a counselor, a trusted friend, a spouse, a parent, your doctor, etc. A mental episode can make you impulsive, and you will not know what you are doing. Getting treatment is NOTHING to be ashamed of. The only shame you should feel is if you don't seek help. Don't let the disease take over. I'm not saying that you will be symptom-free after treatment, but, medication, and therapy lesson the symptoms, and their duration. You are strong, and you need to show yourself, and the world, that you are someone that can overcome the hardest of all obstacles. You never know, you may be the one person that changes the world for the better.
Fight for your life, you will not be disappointed.

 (photo courtesy of: http://ts4.mm.bing.net/th?id=H.4555105906591255&pid=15.1)

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