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#believe, Anorexia, Anxiety, awareness, be you, beautiful, beauty, bipolar, borderline personality disorder, Bulimia, depression, Dialectical behavior therapy, disorders, Dissociative Disorders, eating disorder, health, Heart Disease, hope, infectious disease, mental illness, mental illnesses, mental-health, Personality Disorders, recovery, treatment, understanding, United States, where I Stand
First let’s start with a definition; just to make sure we’re all one the same page.
con·ta·gious
kənˈtājə (adjective)
There are many things in life that are contagious: the common cold, infectious disease, even a mood, emotion or smile. However there are many illness that are not contagious. These come in the form of cancer, diabetes, and heart disease (and many more).
Well, what about mental illness?
Depression
Bipolar
Eating Disorders
Schizophrenia
Anxiety
Addiction
Personality Disorders
Adjustment Disorder
Dissociative Disorders
No. Definitely not contagious.
The notion that by talking about mental illness we create more of it is terrifying. That idea feeds into the silence and shame that prevents people from getting the help that they need. It supports a culture of burring our heads in the sand and it prevents conversations about preventative care.
Silence fixes nothing.
If you know someone has HIV you should protect yourself from from bodily fluids. But if you’re planning on protecting yourself from possible negative ideas for the rest of your life, then you’re quality of life is going to be low. There comes a point where we all need to take responsibility for ourselves. Is this dark or is this light? Is this good for me? Is this helpful? Is this relationship good for me? Is this group good for me? Is this organization positive in my life? Where one person sees darkness another sees light.
The “idea” that mental illness is dark makes me angry. Maybe it’s because I see so many beautiful people helping each other. Maybe it’s because I’ve witnesses strength beyond human possibility through the recovery process. Maybe because I’ve seen families come together after being torn to shreds.
The light at the end of a tunnel is the brightest & light should always be multiplied.
My name is Erin and This is Where I Stand.
You know, I don’t think people worry about being infected. I think they are much more concerned that people who have mental illness (me included in the daily living of having mental health issues) are psychotic serial killers. TV and the news do not do much to dispel this hideous myth.
Reblogged this on Twenty-Six and commented:
AMEN!!!