Mental Health: 5 Things I Wish People Understood

This picture is very indicative of the way most of society think about mental health. Many believe that mental health is a choice. Yes, a positive attitude can bring you closer to feeling better, mentally, but there are so many more facets. Don't you think that sufferers of this, sometimes debilitating disease, wish they could simply "choose to be happy"?

1. Mental illness is not a thinking disease-it is a chemical disease. Period. Do you think anyone chooses to feel like crap day in and day out? Um..no. The average person knows better than ever that.

2. Educate yourselves! The stigma attached to mental illness is a form of discrimination. Who wants to admit that they don't feel well?! Taking a "mental health" day--Yes! For Goodness sake-Yes!!!

3. It is a disease. Do you want to withhold that insulin from that person with Diabetes?! No treatment for that cancer? Hell no! (pardon my French)! There are many medications AND integrative forms of treatment. By all means, tell someone!! Anyone! Hopefully the person you choose to tell is not ignorant and helps you get the treatment you deserve.

4. Please, people...stop using "bipolar" and "crazy" in your vocabulary like the person is nuts and "off their rocker"!  Do you even know what bipolar disease is? No, educate yourself! That is a whole other blog of it's own. Until then-stop judging-start loving, and by all means-educate yourselves!! Xo