You Are Badass

I saw this picture today and I just wanted to say, everyone who deals with a mental illness or has a family member/close friend who struggles with one, is amazing. I know that it sounds odd to sort of compliment myself, my friends and my family just for putting up with me but frankly, it’s hard as hell to live with this constant struggle against yourself and anyone who does, is crazy strong.

Nobody I have ever met thinks they’re strong because they live with this type of challenge in their life; they think they’re a freak, or crazy or weak for having bad days (this includes myself usually). It’s hard to feel strong when your mind is screaming that you’re worthless and weak. I just wanted to take this moment to say that you are SO strong and admirable. I admire you.

Those of you who have a friend who struggles with a mental illness. Damn it’s incredible the stresses you live with. The crap that my friends have taken in the time that I have not been doing well is copious and unfair not to mention probably unbelievably stressful. I can’t tell you how much that patients means, even in moments of frustration with me, they kept their cool; I don’t know what I’d do without them.

Now for the family members. Maybe your loved one is good at communicating when they aren’t feeling great and you have a strategy for how to deal with that with them…I don’t know anyone who has that figured out, though. Not one. So thank you. It can often be an ungratifying job to live or care for someone who is mentally struggling, it’s not easy to see or treat or even know how to react to. It takes enormous amounts of patients, love and open-mindedness to handle and the amount of grace I have seen around this flabbergasts me every time.

You are all superheroes in my mind. Stay strong and keep your head up.