I just want people to understand mental illness.

I just want people to understand mental illness.

If someone breaks their leg, everyone gathers round the hospital bed giving them flowers and chocolate; if someone’s admitted to a psych ward, it’s not talked about and barely anyone visits. Everyone signs a plaster cast; no one wants to sign something they can’t see.

Say someone with depression is just feeling absolutely awful one day- they’re in a complete state of apathy- but made plans with a friend. This person cancels because they really don’t feel up to it and they try to explain in their best words why they can’t go but it just doesn't make sense and they feel even worse for cancelling. Their friend probably wouldn't understand and spend the rest of the day or even week feeling incredibly annoyed and resentful. However if someone was laid up in bed with a stomach bug and didn't have the energy to go out with a friend they’d made plans with- no one wants to leave the comfort of their own home when they’re ill- and cancelled, the friend would most probably be understanding.

Compare “I really don’t feel up to it, maybe another day?” with “I've been up all night vomiting, sorry I’m going to have to cancel”. You’d be happier with the second, wouldn't you? It’s something solid that you can understand. You can’t sit in on counselling sessions and I bet you’d feel awkward as hell watching someone take their anti-psychotics or anti-depressants. You can however, go with someone to the doctors because they've got a bruise that won’t go away. You can, however, push your friend’s wheel chair because their shattered tibia from that car crash won’t allow them to walk.

The nature of mental illness is also something people struggle to grasp. ‘I can’t see that dog you’re calling to, therefore it can’t exist’ ‘you’re not recently bereft, so why are you so sad all the time?’ ‘Your moods change like the weather, you’re a freak’ ‘you’re really ill, why won’t you just eat something?!’. That’s the thing about mental illness- when it’s starting out, a patient might not notice it, but by the time others are noticing it, a patient might not be able to help themselves; the illnesses lie to the sufferers; they eventually consume them, telling them either that they’re fine or that they’re past help. This means it’s vital for those not suffering to help by learning about symptoms and early warning signs.

You have to understand in order to help, but you have to want to help in order to understand.

And I don’t think that people realize they need to help; only if you've been affected by mental illness will you realize the need for awareness.

It starts with a bruise. One day you’re just not feeling that great. Then the bruise just doesn't go away. You just keep feeling sad and not wanting to do anything. You go to the doctors and there’s a referral. They don’t know for sure but it sounds like this. You’re at the hospital and they tell you the news. Your psychiatrist gives you the diagnosis. Both patients can receive treatment. It might not work. It might work. They’ll go into ‘remission’. The illness could come back. And it does. But they don’t want to say anything. My bones are just aching a little, it’s nothing. Oh it’s because of the weather; my mood is quite reflective. But then they begin to ache more, she can’t walk; she’s often short of breath. He ends up not wanting to get out of bed in the mornings, and sleeping the days away. She knows what’s happened and she thinks it’s too late, so she won’t go back to the doctors. He reckons he’s too far gone this time and doesn't seek help. The next day at 3:30am there are two less people in the world. 

You see, leukemia and depression can have the same story. So can sport injuries and bi-polar; sometimes they’re here, sometimes they’re not. Sometimes you’re up, sometimes you’re down. But similar to what I said earlier, you’ll see the Wimbledon competitors wearing their K-tape; you won’t see the world famous musician take his Lithium.

Buzz Aldrin, a wondrous explorer- suffered addiction and depression.

Beethoven, a celebrated composer- believed to have had bipolar disorder.

Earl Campbell, great previous NFL player- plagued by an anxiety disorder.

Mental illness doesn't stop people from becoming brilliant, and being brilliant doesn't stop people from developing a mental illness.