Pride, meaningful, moving forward.

[Infinite_Faith]

Hi all,

I thougth I would run this idea I have by you guys to get a reaction. Let me start with a short speach?

If you've been you for long enough, you will know if you have a mental illness or not. Call it what you like. I suffer from the 3, common ones. They are Panic/Anxiety and the best of all Depression. (Depression sucks) Anyway, this post, has nothing to do with what you might suffer from its about how you see yourself living with your illness in everyday life.

Would you wear a T'shirt that said "I'm mentally Ill" on the front to "but I'm not dangerous on the back".

I find that I am ashamed and embarrassed about my illness. I don't tell anyone. Why should I be ashamed of something that I didnt ask for. The term 'mentally ill' is bad enough.

Just the way it is.

IF

[geoff]

hello IF, an interesting post but a rather provocative comment, and will be keen to see how other people feel, for me maybe what I would say on a T-shirt is a couple of other comments such as:

'I've overcome mental illness'
'I respond to people on Beyond Blue'
'if you are suffering from a mental illness I understand'
'You're not alone with having a mental illness'
'there is help out there for you with mental problems'
'you're not suffering alone in depression'
'antidepressants do work'
'contact your GP in depression'
'contact Beyond Blue for depression'

You would have to be very brave to say 'I'm mentally ill', but if indeed you are very depressed then I put this onto my T-shirt with no hesitation.
What you should never feel is to be ashamed or embarrassed by having a mental illness, did someone ask you to become depressed, I'm sure they didn't, but what we have to try and tell people is that don't ever be afraid to tell the people who love you, because those close to you will realise that something is wrong and has the possibility of being contagious. Geoff.

[Infinite_Faith]

"Its not contagious".

People are scared of phycology, they worry that they are going to be labeled with "something wrong in the head" And let face it, it happens. I have seen it. I have had others decribe people they know...."has issues".

I think we need to lighten up a little on some of the stigma. Of course I am talking about putting a comical edge to it. (But that my not work) Not every one will see it as funny. But I am talking T'Shirts that get the message out that the Mentally Ill, I just the same as you are. (To some degree)

By labeling us with a MI it makes me feel hopeless. IF has a mental illness as opposed to IF has a mental illness that is completely curable?

MI should not be a life sentence that seems to have to cure or hope. (No one is preaching and educating those in the dark about MI), just as a broken leg, a cut, a bruise they eventually heal.

You never have a broken leg forever. But sadly MI may leave permanent mental scares that may never go away, Like a burn victom.

Hope this makes sense.

Its hard work keeping these posts up. Phew.,

IF