“Getting the help you need is nothing to be ashamed of.”

Share your stigma experience.

Family thinks I will just snap out of depression and anxiety and does not feel I should be on medication, especially not forever. Also, the thought of therapy not only paralyzes me just knowing I would have to tell someone I was going or that my family would find out, just to ask questions and add in judgement. Mental Health is hush hush in my family, and is almost taboo. I work in Mental Health, I experience Mental Health, and I see my family share some of these experiences.

How did you overcome this experience?

My mission is to educate as many people as I can in order to reduce stigma and allow others to come forward and not feel weird or ashamed of having to deal with mental health issues. I also just decided that the medications help, that my doctor would not put me on these meds if they were harmful to me, and that it is what I need to do for me.

Help others by sharing a brief, positive message.

Getting the help you need is nothing to be ashamed of. Everyone is always going to have an opinion whether you make a decision based on your needs or their needs, so why not do what you need to do in order to live the best life you can.