Often, you hear advice telling you to “just be yourself”. Why is it so hard? How can we just be ourselves?
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Quotes That Have Helped in Difficult Times
“I am not afraid of storms for I am learning how to sail my ship.” – Louisa May Alcott
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“I was told I use my bipolar diagnosis as a crutch”
“Stigma is when someone is afraid of me or afraid of a part of me because they don’t understand – or want to understand – it…”
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Giving Space to be Heard
“When the people in my life give me this space to talk and explain, I don’t feel the need to hide my mental illness”
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“Happiness is an Inside Job” – Patrick A. Roland on Self-Love
I talk about my diagnosis because I want others like me to know they are not alone and that they can accomplish great things if they keep trying – and show themselves a little self-love. We are taught by society to be ashamed of ourselves or live in fear of ourselves, but if we own…
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“Remove the Blame”: Interview on Social Anxiety
@Social_anx is a Twitter page sharing relatable stories, polls and anonymous submissions about social anxiety. In this article, I interview the person behind the Twitter handle on their own experience having this illness, as well as their views and advice surrounding broader issues in mental health. What’s your story? Why did you create @social_anx? I’ve suffered to…
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Letting Feelings Flow: A Psychotherapist’s Thoughts on Mental Health
“I believe [negative thoughts] can be recognised as the sometimes random ticker tape message of the brain” In this interview, I ask a psychotherapist named Dan about his ideas surrounding issues in mental health. He responds with his own understanding and experience as well as some views on how they might be tackled – through…
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Interview with Joséphine Mwanvua, Above the Storm
Joséphine Mwanvua runs a motivational mental health blog dedicated to “guiding you through mental rehabilitation from depression and anxiety”. In the following interview, I ask Joséphine about her own experience of mental illness and stigma, as well as her ideas on how we can eradicate such stigma through education and providing support to those suffering.
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Interview with Tayo ; Tayo Project
“[Stigma] can also be connected with empowerment and inspiration” – Mari Mendoza, Tayo ; Tayo Tayo ; Tayo is a mental health advocacy project based in the Philippines. With Project Semi Colon being one of their main influencers, Tayo ; Tayo launched their own line of t-shirts, aimed at spreading awareness of depression and suicide. In…
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Mindfump: On Depression
Paul Green (Mindfump) writes witty, thought-provoking and uplifting articles on mental health.
After reading many of these, including The Secret History of Depression, Mental Illness Has No Chance and When Depression Was Your Friend, I became interested in knowing more of Paul’s story and his perspectives.
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Metamorphosis: On Bisexuality
Until recently, Daemon (who uses a pseudonym) remained a closeted bisexual.
On reading his article, ‘Coming Out’, I was curious to know how it felt for him to reveal his sexuality online, the experiences leading him to that point, and his thoughts surrounding sexuality and the LGBT community.
This interview is conducted as part of a series of articles aiming to enlighten LGBT stories.
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Social Anxiety: “Off the Beaten Track” – Interview with Vincent Mars
Vincent Mars is a writer from Romania. In his articles, ‘Social Anxiety and What (Not) to Do About It’ and ‘The Benefits of Being an Introvert’, Vincent writes of his past experiences: how he hid from social anxiety, and the change in perception that instead allowed him to view it as a personal strength. This refreshing perspective interested me to know more, including how he came to that realisation, and any advice he would give to others who are experiencing the same.
This interview is conducted as part of a series of articles aiming to enlighten stories as well as strategies related to mental health.
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