[X] My Assistant

[Gryphaena]

So I know according to the National Association of Mental Illness 1 out of 4 Americans are diagnosed with a mental illness, whether it be an anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder, depression, schizophrenia or any of the others.

I don't know what the statistics are for other countries. Perhaps international members can educate me?

I hope this can be a place where we can be brave enough to share our stories and support each other.

Usually we are only talked about if there's been a mass shooting or when people use the terms "crazy".

We are people, we have feelings and many of us just need some support. Whether it be therapy or medication or a combination. Or something completely different that works for us.



I am living with depression with psychotic features and I manage it with Latuda.

I have had one psychotic episode in my life and it happened when I was 24.

I was in the hospital for a week.

I am now back in school and volunteering.

I also see a therapist and psychiatrist to monitor my progress.

I also attend art therapy and social skills group.

I am still working on becoming more independent.

I am learning to not be a perfectionist and forgive myself.

[Kibum]

I've never been formally diagnosed with anything, but I really think I have a mild case of anxiety. Sometimes I shut down in social situations or places where there's a lot of people. My chest tightens up, I get dizzy and my vision spins. I find it hard to breathe and my skin feels like it's got bugs on them. The last time it happened, I was in a mall. I remember my mind just going "Wow, there are so many people," and then those things happened. I'm also prone to overthinking and have been kept up for several nights over something I did like, four months ago. Sometimes I feel like my own friends don't want to talk to me so I end up avoiding them, which makes them avoid me, which confirms my belief that they don't want to talk to me ( ahhh, I don't know if what I said proves anything, but it sucks big time when it feels like my own brain is against me.

On another note, I'm currently conducting a case study in my high school, and a good percent (around 30%) of the student population reported signs of depression and/or generalized anxiety disorder. Since I live in a--well, not progressive, by any means--third-world country, none of this is acknowledged.

[Gryphaena]

Oh man, I'm sorry you have to deal with that, Kibum.

I may be able to relate a bit to your anxiety, I can remember two instances where I was in a social situation and suddenly my heart goes real fast, I started to feel hot and I wondered if I was dying.

I don't know if they were panic attacks or not, but it was scary.

It's too bad that some countries don't acknowledge conditions like mental illness and/or anxiety.

It sounds like doing so would help so many young people of the place.

[Gryphaena]

Has anyone here had a friend disclose to you that they were feeling like they were in an emotional crisis?

One of my friends shared she was feeling that way to me and I let her know she isn't alone and if she wants help, I can point some resources her way.

I was glad she chose counseling.

I'm also glad that our school has counseling in the first place.