Personal Narrative: My Experience With Mental Illness

Growing up in Chicago, I attended a neighborhood school from preschool through first grade. Although it was an exceptional school for elementary kids, the education for middle school and high school students was not as adequate. Seeking a better place to raise their children, my parents were faced with a tough choice. When I was in 2nd grade, our family made the decision to move to the suburbs. On July 3rd, we all packed into our Honda minivan and drove 45 minutes to a new home in the town of Winnetka. Within my first year at Crow Island, my new school, I learned so many new things. I started playing the violin and speaking Spanish, neither of which were offered at my old school. I met my best friends that I'm still close with now. Over the

I was going to Brentwood Middle School when I got the news. I was just starting to find my friend group. Then I was told I would be transferring to a new group of schools. I would be moving 20 minutes down the road into a little town called Nolensville. When I thought it couldn’t get any worse, I would have to transfer schools again after I finished my freshman year. During my sophomore year of high school, I began at Nolensville. This school and town have changed me in ways I never thought it would.

Allow me to set the stage. The main character is a 22 year old female college student -- senior to be exact. She enjoys animals, learning, and connecting deeply with others. This young woman is looking forward to a career in social work, specifically with those who are suicidal.

I loved your post. I completely do this all the time and I hoped your dinner turned out awesome. I do think didn’t think it was as humorous, some steps you could have taken to help with your preoccupation is responding, and being mindful of your coworker. You were off to the right start by asking her questions but I think you should have responded to her and it would have helped your mind not to wander. “Mindfulness is being fully present in the moment” (Wood, 2016). Even though you were hungry and dinner sounded wonderful, I don’t think you were fully present in the conversation. Great post.

I reached a low point in April of my sophomore year and was admitted into a mental health facility

It came in waves. It started when I was 14 years old, in my 8th grade year. While I have no idea what triggered this, I do know that it was a six-year long slope of mental health degradation pushing me to my breaking point, depriving me of sleep, energy, and my own identity. Unfortunately for me, my family has always been skeptical and critical of mental health issues. My parents always taught me that mental health is a scam and those who claim to have an issue are simply weak. So, it may not be much of a surprise that when I approached my mother about what I was experiencing, she screamed "No, you do not have a problem! You need to grow up!" Her words still ring in my head, and I still remember thinking, I am alone. I have nowhere to turn

I’m sorry Ms. Wiles for causing your door to creak late into first period my sophomore year. I’m sorry the last three months of second semester I was only ever on time or actually there four times. I wanted to go to your class but I got anxiety thinking about walking in and everyone staring, then you having to redirect everyone's attention. I also didn’t want you to be upset with me. So I just thought showing up the next day wouldn’t be as stressful. At the time I was careless and had this mindset of oh well, I’m late, might as well not show up. Or I’m late might as well be extra late. This is actually my second time writing this apology letter. I never gave you the first one because I just felt awkward giving it to you, but I’ve had more

I want to say how sorry I am about some of the things that I say to you when I am so angry with you. I can’t ever justify those things. I wish that I had an explanation for why I am so brutal. I will admit to trying to hurt you. I should never fight like this, but I can’t explain my schizophrenic nature.

During the process of creating the product, I learned that how I was able to connect myself to the mental illness with my previous experience as a patient with mental illnesses. I was able to relate, how an illness can name people based only on their disabilities. This project made me interested to study deeper not only in the abuse of mental institutions but psychology and mental illnesses as well. I was able to get a chance to learn about individual stories on abuse,and how it affected them. I believe that the problem will worsen if we do not acknowledge the abuse. The victims should not be betrayed by the society when they are looking for a

Although, I continued to encounter each stage of life event markers, and surpass each one to go onto the next (Broderick & Blewitt, 2015). As in life we develop more each day, during the adult years cognitive and socioemotional functions will continue to develop and evolve from the ages 30’s and beyond (Broderick & Blewitt, 2015). When I reached the age of 30 years old I decided I wanted more from life, than just a menial job, I want a career. At the age of 30 years old I started LPN school, my children were old enough that they could help around the home while I studied. One year later I graduated from nursing school as an LPN, this was a great accomplishment for me, I was then able to pursue employment that would matter in the lives of others.

I have met this wonderful girl over a social website called instagram.She was going into 12th grade and I was ready to go into my first year of college . After a couple of days of talking to her, we hangout and a week after that, I asked her to be my girlfriend. She said yes and it was a tremendous great feeling to have found someone very special like her.She was very caring person , even very good looking as well. She had told me about her past and all the shocking things she had to go through with "this obsessive , lunatic ex". Honestly, I didn't think any issues would come up with him. I was prepared for what could happen , well at least I thought so at that moment.

Similar to all of mankind, I have experienced many failures; however, no failure has impacted my life more than the one that occurred throughout my transition into high school. Before entering a private high school, I had received my early education from public schooling. Throughout my time in a public elementary and middle school, my thirst for knowledge was quenched and I had excelled in all of my classes. As middle school was ending, my family and I searched for a high school education that would continue to quench my thirst for knowledge; however, the public high school in my area did not meet my expectations for education. As

It was difficult for me to make new friends and get used to a new school. It is difficult for one to spend two years at one school and then transition and spend two years at another school. It isn’t the strongest way to make a social impact. However, everyone was understanding at Middlebridge as a majority of students had transferred from another school or program that didn’t help them with their educational and social needs.

I had to make-up an entire month of school, despite my continued migraines and parade of doctor visits. My counselor even asked me if I had considered homeschooling or online school. I would not succumb to this illness. I vowed that day to never give up, no matter how badly I felt. This mindset was a beacon of hope in dark times, giving me the strength to persevere. I continued to make up schoolwork, in addition to staying current with my daily assignments and

In the beginning of my sophmore year I had a break down due to the death of my grandfather. My anxiety was at an all time high because of this I enrolled in online school. I was aware that when taking online courses you needed motivation. Which was something I did not have at that time because my mind was consumed by a constant depression and anxious feelings. This was the most difficult time in my life because I knew I needed to get my life on track and go back to my highschool because it was apparent I did not have what it takes to motivate myself for online school. Four months later I enrolled back into my local high school. I also recieved medication from my doctor to help cope with the negative feelings I encountered on a daily basis.