You Not Alone
Really?
Mental illness is more common than many may think! Although it has always existed, only recently are more people coming out and publically raising awareness about how mental illness has affected them.
The independent newspaper published an article written by Jonathan Own which shares the experiencesof well known people in the media to raise awareness in society about mental health…
The independent newspaper published an article written by Jonathan Own which shares the experiencesof well known people in the media to raise awareness in society about mental health…
Stephen Fry
"I may have looked happy.
Inside I was hopelessly depressed”
Brooke Sheilds
"I just felt as though
I would never be happy again,
and as if I had fallen into a big black hole."
Neil Lennon
"Its a bit like walking down a long,
dark corridor never knowing when
the light will go on."
Kylie Minogue
"You get such a kick and then suddenly it's all over.
That's good ground for uncertainty and depression.
I usually burst into tears."
Frank Bruno
"It's like a kettle. If it's a kettle, you turn the
kettle off, you know what I mean? I wish I could
put a hole in my head and let the steam come out.
The steam was getting so high and the pressure was just getting a little bit much for me.
Trisha Goddard
"I was in danger of having my children taken
away from me when I needed five weeks in psychiatric care... There is the smiling depressive which
is the biggest time bomb and when they go
they usually go with a bang, which was me..."
Jim Carey
"I was on Prozac for a long time.
It may have helped me out of a jam for a little bit,
but people stay on it for ever."
Robbie Williams
The depression isn't about anything, it's not about 'woe is me'.
It's like the worst flu all day and you can't kick it."
Kelly Holmes
"I became depressed and I cut myself
with scissors and stuff"
Gail Porter...
"It's horrible, horrible, horrible.
It took a year and a
half until I found out that
I had post-natal depression."
George Micheal...
"Twelve years of depression and fear and lots of
other bad stuff. It was as if I had a curse on me. I couldn't
believe how much God was piling on at once."
Time For A Change!
Its time for mental illnessto be recognisedandaccepted in society! If more peopleareaware of mental healthissues then that’salready half the battle won.Awareness creates understandingand helpsto stamp out prejudicesagainst people whoare struggling witha mental illness.Awarenessalso means that more people whoare suffering will beabletoaccess help more quicklyand effectively.
http://www.time-to-change.org.uk is a brilliant website dedicated to changing attitudes towards mental health issues,as well as providing invaluable support for people who are struggling with mental illness. Many well known people such as Gok Wan., Ruby Wax, Trisha Goddard and Frank Bruno campaign for this cause and have spoken out about their own personal experiences to change negative attitudes towards mental health issues.
Frank Bruno was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2003,and said that as a boxer he could always see the opponent he was fighting; however mental health problems…are not so easy to see.
Trisha Goddardalso has personal experience with mental illness. She has suffered from severe depression which resulted in being admitted toa psychiatric hospital. Her younger sister also struggled with mental illness in the form of schizophrenia…and tragically took her own life.
Weareall human,and weall struggle with different problems, whether theyare in the mind or of the body. No oneis alone, thereis always someone out there (or many!) who will be going through what youare going through now. Even thought it may feel like no one out there understands, thereis in facta multitude of people who have experienced orare still experiencing similar problemsto you…and by sharing our journeys with each other, we can help make the roadaheada better one for this generationand the nextto come.
http://www.time-to-change.org.uk is a brilliant website dedicated to changing attitudes towards mental health issues,as well as providing invaluable support for people who are struggling with mental illness. Many well known people such as Gok Wan., Ruby Wax, Trisha Goddard and Frank Bruno campaign for this cause and have spoken out about their own personal experiences to change negative attitudes towards mental health issues.
Frank Bruno was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2003,and said that as a boxer he could always see the opponent he was fighting; however mental health problems…are not so easy to see.
Trisha Goddardalso has personal experience with mental illness. She has suffered from severe depression which resulted in being admitted toa psychiatric hospital. Her younger sister also struggled with mental illness in the form of schizophrenia…and tragically took her own life.
Weareall human,and weall struggle with different problems, whether theyare in the mind or of the body. No oneis alone, thereis always someone out there (or many!) who will be going through what youare going through now. Even thought it may feel like no one out there understands, thereis in facta multitude of people who have experienced orare still experiencing similar problemsto you…and by sharing our journeys with each other, we can help make the roadaheada better one for this generationand the nextto come.
Don't Be Held Back
Having a mental illness dosn't have to hold us back. Just look at the people on this page who all have experienced mental health issues yet, look at all the things they have still achieved! below are some more amazing and influential people who have been affected by mental illness, yet have pursued their dream and left thier mark on the world...
Isaac Newton
Newtom suffered from depressive and pyshcotic episodes, yet was an English physicist, mathematician, astronomer, natural philosopher, alchemist, and theologian. His work and findings has had a massive impact in the way we now see and understand the world around us. Some of his contributions include inventing calculus, explaining "universal gravitation," developing laws of motion and building the first reflective telescope
Michelangelo
Michelangelo had symptoms of bipolar disorder...
yet he painted more than 400 figures on the ceiling
of the Sistine Chapel and is one of the most well renowned
artists of all time
Beethoven
Beethoven's contributions to music were monumental.
Yet despite his deafness and bipolar disorder,
he is still to this day considered one of the world's best composers
Winston Churchill
"When you're going through hell, keep going" - (Churchill)
Churchill suffered from severe depression,
yet he was a great leader and courageously led Britain out
of the second world war.