Mental Health Friday: #1

Mental Health Friday: #1

by Ameena k.g

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I was first diagnosed with Early Onset Bipolar Disorder when I was five years old. At that time, my mother did not accept the diagnosis and moved forward with no help. At the age of 23, after I had my first child, I was diagnosed again. I did not accept my diagnosis at that time. At the age of 31, I was once again diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder, ADHD and PTSD. I accepted my diagnosis’ and went for treatment.

Through my life, there have been great losses and broken relationships due to the stigma of mental illness. It amazes me when I come to realize how destructive ignorance can be. I wish the people in my life had been educated at least enough to know that mental illness, like any physical illness, is not a choice. It is not a moral issue. It has absolutely nothing to do with values and integrity. Mental illness does not mean less than.

There is so much brilliance hidden in people who are disregarded because of a diagnosis. So much courage, fortitude, loyalty and love. The creativity is endless. Just like anyone else, we are leaders, followers, teachers, friends, sisters and brothers, sons and daughters. We are parents who love our children and children who love our parents. We are human beings.

What I would really like to see, is a way for people to appreciate the value of a person with a mental illness. Just like everyone else, we each have gifts to give the world. Great gifts and it seems such a waste to throw away such assets, based on ignorant assumptions. Over the past fifteen years, I have struggled to accept, understand and become compliant with my diagnosis. Bi-Polar to me is not a bad thing anymore. I know what it means in my life and those around me and I know what I have to do to manage it.

Over the past few years, I have come to terms with the fact that the stigma of mental illness is what it is. I have been astounded to find that in general, people will react to my disorder as opposed to reacting to my actual behavior. People have a tendency to hold on to their ideas when those ideas are driven by fear of what they do not understand. I would love to be a part of lifting that veil of fear, the veil of ignorance that people struggle to hold onto. The world would be a better place if people cared more about what is, then what appears to be.

As for the way things are now in my journey, I struggle on a daily basis to move past the losses I have had due to the stigma, move forward with my life the way it is now and hopefully prepare myself for something better.

 -submitted by Trae from Tripleclicka.com

IMAGE CREDIT: Healthyplace.com

If you’d love to contribute and share your story on Mental health Friday, I’d love to have you. You can contact me on My email address is: mykahani@yahoo.com. For more information, visit this post

30 thoughts on “Mental Health Friday: #1”

  1. Thank you for writing this. I was diagnosed with type one Bipolar several years ago. My life before my diagnosis was hell. At least now I have help and medication and I am finding life a little less of an uphill battle.x

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  10. What a great post!! Thank you for sharing. Talking about this helps to remove the stigma. I worked at a clinic for ten years and one of our doctors was diagnosed after years of therapy and finally he got the help he needed. What an amazing sixth sense he had helping many of his patients if they struggled with a mental illness. Any kind of mental illness or learning disability do NOT define the person anymore than someone who suffers from a chronic illness Every year our phone service Bell does a blitz for one day called Bell Let’s Talk and for 24 hrs Facebook, Twitter and text messages gives $ per message. I give a school presentation with a local comedian who was diagnosed with BiPolar. The country have famous athletes and famous celebrities share “their stories” to help the public see the face of mental illness looks just like you and me. Your blog helps this issue. Thank you!! May I reblog this??

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  13. Good Morning- You took your diagnoses seriously at 31 years of age. Heck, my mother knew something was wrong with me before I knew. A family secret. I was a ditto of my Grandmother, with the same mental health disorders. I learned of my diagnoses when I was 49 years of age.
    There was a severe stigma back then in my grandmothers days, but at least it’s comforting in knowing that people now are breaking it.
    Excellent post!

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