by Denise in Washington
My diagnosis with ADHD last year at 54 years old was both shocking and relieving. I was shocked because I thought that ADD was a childhood disorder, and I was relieved because it explained some painful aspects of my life.
by Angela in North Carolina
My strength is derived from my passion for advocating for those who suffer from mental illness as I have shared their pain. I am a highly-motivated individual who chooses to use my own mental illnesses as an asset rather than a liability.
by Rayelle in Minnesota
My mental illness has affected my life since I was around five years old. I grew up in a very violent and abusive home in Minnesota, as have a lot of my mentally ill friends. I have five siblings who grew up there with me and we all suffered the wrath of alcoholic parents who used us as punching bags. I was beaten regularly and even have memories of a sibling that was murdered in our kitchen, but no one ever talks about it or acknowledges it even happened. That caused a lot of anger and rage towards most of my direct family members, and I have cut most of them completely out of my life. That, I believe, was the healthiest thing I have ever done.
by Joshua in Arkansas
Yesterday I was discharged from a health care center, where 4 ½ days earlier I was voluntarily admitted because of an emotional and overall mental break down – one of many I have experienced over the course of the past year. My discharge diagnosis was bipolar, manic depressive, attention deficit disordered and bulimia. I continue to battle these things everyday of my life.
by Amy in Illinois
Hello. I have dealt with mental illness all my life. I always felt "different" even when I was in grade school. I didn't want to always participate in recess. It wasn't until 11 months after my father passed away that my depression and anxiety started ruling my life. That was January of 1992 and I finally saw a therapist in April of that year, followed by an appointment with a psychiatrist the following month.
by Eileen in Pennsylvania
I lost my job in the late 1990s. I have been jobless since. I have been going to therapy for the last 10 years. I got to the point where my life was stagnant and I was tired of the same nonsense everyday. So I started going to school to become a medical billing coder clerk. It should be interesting to see if I can do it. I have to. I will not fail and let my depression and anxiety get to me. I need the certificate so I can get a good job.
My husband and I live on our two checks from disability, and it is just not enough. I have made up my mind that I can and I will do it. I have to go to school for another year. I am glad to express myself.
I am on all kinds of medicine for my depression and anxiety. I changed my strong medicine for depression to the night time so I take 600 mgs of that strong medicine, and I take anti-anxiety medication. I am in terrible pain from arthritis – from head to toe literally. Please pray for me. I'm a Hebrew-Christian and need your prayers.
by J in California
I have been admitted, mistreated, and dumped by both UCLA and Cedar Sinai Medical Center for not having any insurance or way of paying for my treatment. I am now writing to you from a coffee shop as I am very sick, have nowhere to go to get shelter, and I am writing to ask for your help and immediate assistance with this matter. I am educated as a medical doctor and was a physician in training until 1999, when an invisible illness -- that I was unaware I had -- changed my life forever. I am currently severely disabled, homeless, and indigent with a mental illness. Ironically, it was my choice of profession and my work as a surgical resident as Stanford University that triggered my disease to a point where I was too unstable to finish my training as a surgeon.
by Joan in Ilinois
"Does he love us? Does he love us? Does he love us? I look around & all I see is destruction. I guess we're all counting on his Divine Intervention." These are lyrics from a Matthew Sweet song on the Girlfriend CD. I bought it in Feb, 1993, in the depths of depression, This CD has always had great meaning for me, especially the first song, Divine Intervention. Listening to it, projecting into it, I wondered if there was a way to get weight off my body, the invisible kick out of my stomach and let me see the world in focus - not distortion – again.
by Melissa in Texas
My bipolar disorder has affected my life in many ways. It affected my schoolwork back in 1980s when I was in my twenties when I was having rapid thoughts. I didn't know I had bipolar disorder then.
