I Am Not My Mental Illness

Hello my fellow readers and writers! I am new to blogging and too this platform so I thought that I would take a quick minute to introduce myself, before hopping into this article. For starters my name is Sierra and I'm 16 years old. I am from a small town in Michigan and along with being an aspiring journalist. How my Friday nights go is staying home watching Hulu or reading a book that I got from a local bookstore. Photography is another passion of mine. When I can't find the words to express something I use an image to capture my emotions. I go to a small one hallway high school that is full of drama and raging hormones. Sounds fun, right? You could say that I am a total nerd. One would come to the conclusion that I am your typical teenager. Well enough about me let's jump in to this article.

Since joining this platform I've noticed that there hasn't been a lot of talk about mental health so I want to get the ball rolling.

I was watching Shameless the other day and there was this scene that came up. Ian one of the main characters was trying to get a job as an EMT. But the application had a question on it about his mental health history. So I thought to myself "Is that an actual question employers ask," "Why would mental health matter"? According to a statistic stated by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) it does. 80% of people who receive mental health services are unemployed because they do so. Stigma can prevent people from getting a job. We are perceived as incapable of making decisions for ourselves and doing our work effectively. "People with schizophrenia are 6-7 times more likely to be unemployed than the general population with a 70-90% unemployment rate" stated by NAMI.

Putting all the statistics aside let's talk real. I have bi-polar, depression, and an anxiety disorder. I personally find it therapeutic to work around the clock. But what people don't understand is that I am not my mental illness. My disorders don't affect my capabilities to function like your average human being. Yes there are setbacks but I am quick to overcome them. I feel like people see me less of a person when they find out about my illnesses. But what they don't acknowledge is that I get help. And I feel like that's what most people aren't informed about. There are always whispers and hidden conversations about mental health but it's nothing to be ashamed of. This should be something that needs to be talked about more and normalized. We shouldn't shame people or think of them differently because of this. I appreciate the people that own what they have, but don't label themselves. As I worked my way through my journey through my health I looked up to those type of people. For example I looked up too Gina Rodriguez, she started battling depression at a young age like me. She is a strong, independent, successful women and I admire that.

My advice to other people with a mental illness is, don't let these stigmas stop you from reaching your goals. Having a disorder doesn't mean you're inadequate of everyday things. Yes there will be bitter days but that doesn't mean you won't push pass them. Healing takes time so be patient and know you're doing the best that you can. So don't give up!

If you have any critiques about my writing, feel free to let me know! I can take all the advice I can get.