My Experience With Mental Illness

I’ve always been passionate about understanding others; stepping into their shoes and seeing, thinking, and appreciating the lives they live. I think it is important to take that extra step and see things from a different point of view. It is the only way to achieve a true understanding. I believe in this philosophy so much so, that it’s one of the main reasons I have this blog; to give others a glimpse of a life with mental illness. I’ve been in treatment for 2 months and 26 days and I think it’s time for another peek into my brain.

Forget all the stereotypes of mental illness. It has no face. It has no particular victim. Mental illness can affect an individual from any background and the black community is no exception. African Americans sometimes experience even more severe forms of mental health conditions because of unmet needs and barriers to treatment. According to the Office of Minority Health, African Americans are 20 percent more likely to experience serious mental health problems than the general population. That’s why UGA third year Majenneh Sengbe is taking action as the co-founder of her upcoming organization Black Minds Daily.

The novel begins with Lizzie having a breakdown on her bathroom floor at her party, reportedly as she was coming down from a cocaine high. From early adolescence, she struggled with major depression, first overdosing at age twelve during a summer camp. Surprisingly, her parents had given her quite a stable childhood, that is, until their divorce; it was then that Lizzie discovered how abstract the individuals actually were. Often caught in the crossfire, she explains how her father urged her to pursue freedom and personal happiness, while her mother wanted her to have a more orthodox upbringing.

There’s something that struck me when Andrew Solomon mentions the friend he has who went to electroshock therapy every month and that he was going to try a brain surgery to maybe change his life for the better. The Christmas after the surgery, Mr. Solomon received a letter from this man, saying that one of the two presents he had gotten from his father that year was a picture of his grandmother who had committed suicide. He started crying, not because he had never met his grandmother, but because they both shared depression. He was crying because he could have ended up like his grandmother, and not with the wonderful family he has today. Having a mental illness such as depression, and being in recovery from it, when you learn of someone who you could have one day known who killed themselves because they were unable to handle the stresses, the feelings of inadequacy and worthlessness coupled with almost crippling anxiety, it makes you realize that that person could have been you. You could have been unable to eventually get a grip through medications, therapies, ECT, or surgeries, and missed all of the things that make up your life today.

Mental illness survivor Tilly Dunn fought off suicidal thoughts and endured psychosis for decades. But since 2007, she has not entertained any single thought of suicide, and in 2012, she discontinued antipsychotic medication (with her psychiatrist’s approval and supervision). With her own strength, professional help, and her husband’s love and support through the years, she triumphantly overcame her ordeal, and now she embarks on a personal crusade to help others overcome mental illness.

In the fall of my junior year, I learned about the unexpected death of a former classmate of mine. Although I did not know him well, David’s passing had a significant impact on my life. I changed my own beliefs on handling mental illnesses.

Lori Schiller’s story of her struggles battling mental illness is frightening yet inspiring. Lori’s childhood was incredibly normal if not better than the norm. She grew up in a very affluent, wealthy family that were also very loving and supporting. Lori was also a straight A student that was accepted to some of the best universities in the country. Many people have the notion that mental illness only happens to children from bad families or the homeless but Lori proves that stereotype

I’ve been diagnosed with Schizophrenia, it is crazy, I know. Some would believe that being schizophrenic does make me crazy and sometimes I think I am. All the thoughts floating around, voices speaking to me, seeing things that aren’t really there, I couldn’t set priorities and not feeling “the right way” about many things. Before I was formally diagnosed, my family was very upset with me, my actions, and did not understand what was going on with me. I was having a very hard time caring for my premature baby properly and not bonding well with her, I think because I was having trouble with my emotions. Every day was hard, nothing seemed to make sense. I was sick and we all did not realize how bad it really could become, until it did. The good new is

the disorder truly can be for a person. She explains her pain and sorrow, and shows how she let

The complex structure of the human body is uniquely beautiful. From an early age I have been fascinated by the workings of life and have always wondered why things function the way they do. However, it was witnessing my cousin deteriorating due to schizophrenia which showed me that this complexity is not perfect. I realized the effects mental illnesses have on patients and their families, and I have learned to appreciate how fulfilling it would be to be a physician helping patients like my cousin.

1 out of 100 people is schizophrenic. I am lucky enough to be that 1 as many of you already knew.

When I first set out to propose a project, I wasn’t sure what topic I wanted to conquer. Therefore, I quickly jumped when the professor suggested reading the memoir, “Darkness Visible” by William Styron. I have enjoyed all the class readings so far, I even did my last project on another memoir, and thought that reading a fresh perspective regarding mental illness would be engaging and inspiring.

Growing up with a mother who is a registered nurse, I have been able to appreciate and understand the importance of health. She has instilled her compassionate and caring nature in me throughout my whole life. She taught me not only how crucial personal health is but also how important community health and prevention is. Even while working in today’s heavily pharmaceutical influenced “modern” healthcare system, my mother has always valued and emphasized the use of natural and holistic treatment methods. Her everlasting influence on me rooted my interest in careers with the potential to have highly beneficial impacts on others.

I struggled with linking the vast disconnect between neurobiology and human behavior I was observing in patients. I began to understand how development of a disorder is an understandable reaction to stress and shaped the way I perceived people with mental disorders. What really struck me about mental illness was learning how many people were unable to receive help and remain untreated. This was exemplified in Autumn, who could not seek help in spite of her accepting she would benefit from receiving professional help.

I had mixed emotions about this course because I don’t have any experience with dealing with people experiencing mental health problem. However, I also feeling emotions of excitement, as I knew I would learn a great deal about mental health throughout the semester. The first day of class was very important time for me to establish a tone for what will happen the rest of the term and foundation day of how I reduce all the anxieties and how to manage course load. I always came to first-day class asking a question myself, what can I do to establish a positive beginning? The introduction of learning environment was very helpful and can build trust among students relationship and also can be demonstrated by mutual respect, acceptance and the student treating each other in a non-judgemental manner. I like the idea that you create a positive learning environment in the classroom because, it allows me to feel comfortable, safe and engaged.