I wish people understood mental health more. I wish talking about mental health was normalized vs being taboo to talk about especially in Black and POC communities.
I also wish people would stop using mental illnesses and terms so broadly, making them seem less serious than the really are, really making it difficult for those of us who are struggling bad in our journey or who are in times of crisis.
I never felt comfortable talking about my struggle and history because people really will just think it’s just a phase, you’re crazy, you’re ungrateful, you’re exaggerating (especially when you’re usually the person laughing and joking), etc. so you suffer in silence. It’s something I can’t even explain but has been with me since childhood.
It’s really weird being a little kid and thinking something about the way you’re feeling doesn’t seem right, but you don’t know how to put it into words because you don’t know what it is. On top of that, having your loved ones tell you to snap out of it. You know they mean well and they’re worried too but they’re in the same boat as you, struggling with their mental health but not knowing where to start and how to help you.
It’s shitty, especially when you’re a part of a community that’s not given the same respect and care.