Battlefield

DISCLAIMER / TRIGGER WARNING: I am not planning to hold back on the dark parts of life in this post.

Living with a Mental Illness

There is a stigma attached to mental illness. People don't seem to understand what we are really going through except for those that have gone through it themselves. I personally deal with this stigma on a daily basis from family and coworkers. To be honest, it sucks. The only way to destigmatize mental illness is to be willing to talk about it.

Project Semicolon and TWLOHA

I recently got a tattoo. Yes, a permanent mark on my body. Part of my tattoo is a semicolon along with a cross and the word love. Now, if you are familiar with these two organizations, you already know where this is going. Both of these organizations bring awareness to the reality of mental illness, depression, and suicide. I attempted suicide multiple times starting at just 12 years old and still struggle with suicidal ideation and self-harm.

A coworker of mine saw my tattoo and asked about it. I told her it's kind of dark but I will tell her if she would like and still wanted to know. So I told her about my struggle with mental illness and suicide. Her response? "Why would you want to advertise that on your body?!" I was taken back, I expected a bit of a response like that from her, but not something said in such a condescending and demeaning tone.

The Battle

Now, everyone has had different reactions to the meaning of my tattoo. People will ask why. I did it to spark questions, to bring light to the dark places so many of us have been. I wanted to start the conversation on the reality of living with depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, trauma, and every other mental illness out there. Without the conversation, the stigma will be here to stay. It is our job, yes us as people who personally battle mental illness day in and day out, to speak up. No one else understands what living with these thoughts in our heads is like. We are the front line entering the battlefield against the stigma mental illness currently holds.

Victory

As long as we continue to communicate with one another and let people in, victory is ours. I have yet to find anyone on this site that believes in that stigma, so know that you are safe here. You are safe to be you, to be vulnerable. Who would've thought, vulnerability leading to victory. Now, hold on tight as we fight this fight together.