Share your story

Share your story
0 words
0 words
0 words
*Required field

I have read and accept these terms.

I have read and accept the Make It OK website Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. By clicking “submit” I confirm that I am at least 18 years old and give HealthPartners, Inc. and its related organizations (“HealthPartners”) consent to use and publically display the Personal and Health Information I share on this website (“My Information”), in whole or in part, on this website and in other commercial ways, including making My Information available to third party users of this website to promote the Make It OK campaign. I understand that HealthPartners may edit or choose not to use My Information and will only use my first name or a fictitious name when My Information is used. I understand that I will not be compensated in any way by HealthPartners or third parties for sharing My Information with Make It OK and that the purpose of the campaign is to help reduce mental health stigma. I release HealthPartners from any and all liability for any claims that may arise out of the use, publication or sharing of My Information for this purpose.


Sending

Filter Stories Done

« Back To All Stories

Jessica’s Story

“Seek professional help to build a better life!”

Share your stigma experience.

I was diagnosed with depression, anxiety, and OCD and have suffered from these mental illnesses on and off for most of my life. During a particularly depressive chapter in my life, I confided in a friend that depression had been kicking my butt and I was reaching out for support. She told me to count my blessings and stop being selfish because there were a lot of people in this world who had it far worse than I did. She completely invalidated my feelings and made me feel even more depressed; it felt like she said that I don’t even deserve to be sad and the fact that I am makes me a terrible person.

How did you overcome this experience?

First, I cut her out of my life. She wasn’t a particularly close friend, family member, or neighbor, so I didn’t have to see her much anyway. But I cut toxic people out of my life so that they wouldn’t contribute to my negative feelings about myself.

Second, I built up my support system. I chose more compassionate friends and sought out therapy.

Finally, I educated myself and shifted my mindset so I truly believed that just because someone else may have it worse than me, they don’t have a monopoly on pain/sadness. I am entitled to my thoughts and feelings.

Help others by sharing a brief, positive message.

Seek professional help to build a better life!

Build a balanced support system. Don’t spend all your time with people who don’t believe in mental illness, and don’t spend all of it with people who are so mentally ill that you bring each other down instead of lift each other up.

Share This Story

Stigma Quiz

Can you recognize mental illness stigma?

Go To Quiz

Dive Deeper

Try the Make It OK Interactive Tool

Explore

21,247 people have pledged to stop mental illness stigma.

By signing this pledge, you’re taking a stand against the mental illness stigma. Pass it on. Print it out. Tape it up. It can serve as a reminder to start more conversations and stop the labeling. Together, we can Make It OK.

Take the Pledge