So today is 10th October aka world mental health day. Those of you who read my mammoth status for Eating Disorder Awareness week back in February will probably guess what’s coming. Although I haven’t made it a secret that I experience mental illness, I haven’t had the balls to write about it before (I’ll come back to that later). However I’m not ashamed to say I’ve been diagnosed with depression and emotionally unstable personality disorder – previously called borderline personality disorder. These 2 illnesses are actually quite useful to contrast because it seems that depression is a disorder that “everyone has” and so people are made to feel they’re faking, whereas BPD is a personality disorder, and therefore something only seen in films and possibly in dangerous criminals. I’ve always been pretty sure I’m not a criminal, it’s always worried me that people may think I was faking, or “doing it” for attention. I was so scared of this possibility that even when I was struggling the most I’d drive myself to A&E alone, or just curl up silently in public toilets or the back seat of my car when I was going through dissociation or a panic attack. No one else needed to be burdened with my silly games. The above paragraph does little to help anyone else who may be struggling with their mental health. The message I really wanted to convey was that I felt isolated at the times when I needed support the most. I know I’m not the only one who felt like this: during my A level year, I know many of my peers suffered with stress and anxiety – a normal response to horrible exam pressure. Sadly even without the stigma of a “mental illness” we are still reluctant to talk about what is eating us. Another factor that prompted me to write this was the large amount of lectures I’ve had about “dealing with stress” since starting uni. I’m pleased that medical schools acknowledge that students who may be very bright or from well off families are still at risk from mental health problems. However I’m disappointed this sort of mental health education doesn’t start earlier during school years. It doesn’t matter whether you’ve suffered horrific trauma, had an “easy” life, been diagnosed with a mental or physical illness or if you’ve got no health concerns at all, everyone is susceptible to mental illness and mental health problems. So my message for World Mental Health Day is to talk about what’s worrying you and don’t let it linger and become a bigger problem.
Posted on: Fri, 10 Oct 2014 07:47:50 +0000
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