Blog for Mental Health asks each person who has had an experience with mental illness, either with themselves or through a loved one, to write a blog post about it. The objective is to pull mental illness out of the closet and change the stigma attached to it so more people who need help, will reach out and receive help. For more information regarding this challenge, please go to their website:
My experience with mental illness began shortly after my first child was born. I was left in hard (difficult and painful) labor for 2 1/2 days before they decided to take him with forcepts. In those days, Cesarian births were very rare and even rarer in a little bitty farming community of about 900 people. I began having panic attacks after this experience.
When my husband and I were going through a divorce and custody battle, I began to sink into a depression which continued getting worse. I describe the experience as “hitting the bottom and the bottom falling out.” It was a horrible experience that worsened as the grip of mental illness swallowed me into it’s gut of paranoia, severe depression and high anxiety.
For a long time, I couldn’t sleep at night. Often, I would stay up all night and pace, trying to get away from the horrible fears that had gripped me. I would write in my journal excessively and go on long walks in my neighborhood. I would have frightening hallucinations. I tried my best to look “right and normal” on the outside when on the inside my illness was eating me alive. My family members were ashamed of me and this caused me to try and look normal to them and other people.
After years of therapy and trying different medications, I was finally helped when anti-depressants were introduced to me. Apparently, I had a severe chemical imbalance and the correct medicine was able to correct this imbalance. Finally, I was able to feel and experience joy again, and to think as a normal person again. This was a huge breakthrough for me. There is hope. With the medications, knowledge, and therapy available now, there is hope and help for those who are experiencing mental illness. Mental Illness does include simple depression because simple depression can grow into severe depression if left unchecked. Please, don’t be ashamed to ask for help or ashamed to help your loved one find help.
“I pledge my commitment to the Blog of Mental Health 2015 Project. I will blog about mental health topics, not only for myself, but for others. By displaying this badge, I show my pride, dedication, and acceptance for mental health. I use this to promote mental health education in the struggle to erase stigma.”
I would like to give a “shout out” to my friend Cat, author of, “My Travels with Depression,” for introducing me to this site. (Please click on the gravatar below to read his excellent “Blogging for Mental Health” post).
BEAUTIFUL WORDS 
I’m so glad antidepressants were introduced to you and that they helped. I’m sorry your family was ashamed of you and that you had such a difficult pregnancy and divorce. Thanks for sharing your experience. It will be so helpful to so many people.
Thank you Mandi. I really do hope by sharing it that it helps some people not have to go through the same horrible experience as I did. ((Hugs!)) xoxo
This is an excellent post and I really admire your courage in taking the step to share it. I don’t think – actually I know that I don’t have the guts to do something like this. This line: “I tried my best to look “right and normal” on the outside” gave me goosebumps. I’m happy the ADs worked for you.
Thank you! When I first started blogging I wasn’t able to share this information either, but as became more comfortable and met others in the WordPress Community that have mental healthy issues it became easier for me to talk about it, especially since uncovering it has been so healthy for me.
“mental healthy” <—- I don't know if that's a typo but I think not. Anyway, I love it. Uncovering… maybe one day…
I just went and looked and it was a typo. Should have said, “mental health.”
Hugs to you my friend! So sorry about all you have gone through and not having family support when you needed it the most! Very thankful that the pills helped and therapy and that I am blessed with knowing you today, even if its just online! Thanks for your honesty in sharing in a effort to help others! Its true how the world needs to understand mental illness better! Thanks for doing your part to help them! XO
Thank you. You are so sweet. It is because of people like you that makes it possible for me to open up and tell about my experiences! ((Hugs!!)) xoxo
PJ,
Yes it a powerful frightening place to be. Many sometimes never ever emerge from that place of depression or mental illness. I know you have shared your story before on your blog, shining light in the darkness allows room for healing to begin however and whenever that opportunity presents itself!
I have had my own share of dancing in the shadows and withdrawal from the outside world for whatever reason. Yet I continue to move forward.
It is always important to tell our stories. they offer others the ability to see and hear how it was, what happened and how healing came to be.
Bless you!
Jeff
Thank you Jeff. Your comment means a lot to me. It is a very difficult place to be and for me to connect with others that know what I am talking about helps me continue to heal and stay out of that terrible place. When I share my experience, I hope that others who are suffering will read it and find hope for themselves. Thank you for sharing your experience with me Jeff and many many blessings to you!
Thank you so much for sharing your story! You words will give the courage that people need and stand up for themselves.
Thank you Amy! I hope you are right. 🙂
I am so glad that you continue to write about mental health issues so that it is encouraging for other people to talk about it. I feel frustrated sometimes by the lack of knowledge among people who are ‘normal’, expecting a depressed person to ‘just snap out of it’.
Yes I understand. And especially people that think we are “just feeling sorry for ourselves.” it is sad.
Yes, it is very sad. It is important to empathize with the person who is feeling such a high degree of hopelessness and despair. May the society be more aware. You have inspired me to write about my own experience of depression.
I am glad to hear that because it is from our honesty and openness about our illness that we can truly heal from them.
Awe Joy, I am so glad you are taking part in BFMH and thank you for the mention. I already knew you had your own experiences with depression, but wasn’t sure of the details. It is so important to hear from people like you, who has come through recovery and now shine with so much warmth and friendship. Bless you, Joy 😉
Thank YOU Cat. You are one of the reasons I can talk about it on a public forum like this. Before, I was much too ashamed to. You have helped me to not be ashamed of it and to talk about it and use it as a means to help others. For me, that was a HUGE step. I am so grateful to have met you on WordPress. I consider you a very good friend.
That is very sweet of you to say. other Bloggers helped me with the shame and it is nice to know I may return that to others. Thank you, Joy, dear friend 😉
You’re welcome! And, hopefully, I am helping other’s with theirs. Like… paying it forward! Yes, you are considered my dear friend. 🙂
PS Do you not share your posts on twitter. I usually get some readers from there. Do you know how to share a post?
I use to have my posts also publish to twitter. I joined a church in 2013 and some of the higher ups started following me on twitter. They started following me everywhere. It really spooked me. I left this church in January and I still don’t have the nerve to publish to twitter.
Oh gulp, I just shared your blog for Mh post on twitter, sorry, but I doubt they can see it unless they are a follower of mine and then that would be real spooky. What do you see when you click on this link… it should be the old notification page format https://wordpress.com/notifications
I don’t mind if other people share my posts on their twitters. I just don’t put it out on mine for the reason I told you. No, they wouldn’t see it on yours or others posts. I am fairly certain of that. Don’t worry, you didn’t do anything wrong. 🙂
PJ, you are an inspiration to me and I’m sure a lot of other bloggers as well. Lord knows how on earth the doctors let you go through that?! Thank you for sharing your story and journey. Your fictions do bring a smile on my face. 🙂 ❤
I share about the experience I suffered through because I hope it will help others. I couldn’t talk about it for a very long time because of shame. Thank you Ameena, for your kind thoughts and friendship. I’m glad you are entertained by my flash fiction. That’s the whole purpose of them. 🙂 I have fun writing them. ((Hugs!))xoxo
You are an inspiration, PJ, and so sweet to so many. You deserve all the good that comes your way, and I’m glad you can share and not be ashamed, for there is no reason to be, and the more people share, the more others will become enlightened and educated, and we can end the ignorance associated with mental health and illness! Hugs my friend!
Thank you Jodi! I could not have said it better myself! Exactly.
[…] to Priceless Joy for introducing me to the Blog for Mental Health. Read her post on Mental Health here […]
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Reblogged this on Darque Thoughts.
Thank you!
You’re Welcome!
I have only just come to this page and I know that I am very late. Perhaps I will make some time to put together a post. I think that everybody has experience of mental illness, either in themselves or somebody who is very close and loved. My personal experience is small compared to some, and counselling helped me to control it, but not to make it go away. A few of my family have been affected, but none more so than my grandson, who continues to suffer. It is heart-breaking. The professional people who are paid to help him sometimes appear to do the exact opposite. I have spent years battling on his behalf. When things seem to be on the up, they usually come crashing down. I have come to expect that. But we will never give up and we will love him forever.
Thanks for this blog.
I’m so sorry to hear about your grandson and I really do hope they will help him. If they don’t perhaps you can find someone else to help him? Also, if he is on medication, he needs to take the medicine regularly. I’m not saying that he isn’t, because I don’t know. I know that the medicine along with regular counseling help. I truly hope things start looking up for you and your grandson.