I am on day 6 of WEGO Health’s Health Activist Writer’s Month Challenge and this is today’s prompt:
“I write about my health because…”Reflect on why you write, in writing.Meta!
Why do I write about my depression? Because it helps me.
In September of 2009 I experienced a short stay in a state run psychiatric hospital. Unfortunately, when I was allowed to leave I still felt like I was filled with out of control emotions – the strongest was a feeling of rage. I knew that unless I found a healthy way to manage those out of control emotions I would most likely find myself back in that hospital. So, I came up with the idea of writing – blogging – about the stuff in my head. My thinking was if I could get those emotions out of me – through writing – then I might stand a chance at getting them under control. For the most part, it has worked out that way.
To this day, I am not completely sure why I chose a public forum – blogging – to do my journaling. Most likely it had something to do with accountability, and hoping to find support.
What started off as an experiment in journaling has grown into something much more. Writing has allowed me to look at my issues from a different perspective – giving me an opportunity to understand myself better, and make different choices for myself. My writing has become a valuable tool in my depression treatment. It has also helped me create a wonderful online support system, and made it possible for me to meet some people who have become very special to me. The thing that has surprised me the most is how much I enjoy writing. It is something I never thought I had any talent for, and when I was younger I disliked it intensely.
Somehow, all this journaling about my depression, and connecting with other people who have mental health issues has turned me into a Mental Health Activist. The more I have gotten to know other people with mental health diagnosises, heard their stories, and learned how the world treats people like me, the more passionate I have become about being one of the voices that speaks out against stigmatizing people with mental health issues.
I write about my depression because it helps me. It helps me learn about myself, and encourages me to grow. I write because it is an outlet for my emotions. Writing has helped me make friends, and find my voice. It has allowed me to share my story, and add my voice to the growing number of voices that speak out against the stigma that surrounds people with mental health issues.