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In celebration of Depression Awareness Week, I share my story. Enjoy.  1 in 10 suffer from mental illness Stigma is already taking away...

Friday, 22 June 2018

Why it's important to share your mental health story whether you're in recovery or not

At the grand age of 23. I have shared my story so many times with so many people who are going down the same path to recovery as I am, although there are so many different stories to tell and here's why I shared mine so early on in my recovery.

It's so important to show others that it isn't shameful to be suffering with mental health illnesses. It's not shameful for you to be put on medication to help you cope. People with cancer may have to have chemo or radiotherapy to help them recover, those with diabetes have to take insulin to balance the sugar levels in their body. That's exactly what we're doing, taking medication to help us recover and to balance out the serotonin in our brains. 
I love sharing my story with others, it's helped so many people speak out about their own struggles.
I suffered in silence for 9 years from age 9 til 18. I didn't have a choice but to speak up. It was a long hard road to travel down on your own. It's difficult. It was absolute hell!! It brought out the teenage rebel in me and now that that is under control, I feel so bad about how I was. If you want to speak out, please do, it's the best thing I have ever done and I have done some amazing things in the past. Yes of course I had bad experiences with some people, but it's about them understanding what's going on. Yes, some people are going to run away and be scared and again it's about them understanding, without understanding, it's ignorance. Just because you can't see it, doesn't mean it's not there. Like cancer and diabetes, you can't see that either, yet the stigma for mental health is much larger than stigma against cancer and diabetes. 
It's so important to share that you have mental health issues, yes it's closed so many doors but opened so many more for me. If it wasn't for my mental health, I wouldn't be off work right now and that's a blessing in disguise because it gives me time to get qualifications for me to pursue my dream job in childcare. 

Share your diagnosis' below and let's get rid of the stigma!! Speak loud and speak proud!!



Hope you're all enjoying the beautiful weather, 

Catherine x

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