This post is going to be something different. I know that here we speak mostly about our daily obstacles as people with disabilities, but today I want to speak about something which has to do a lot more with the mind than with the body: mental health. Or better said, mental illness.
Over the past few months, I've watched a friend whom I love very very much, slowly turning into a completely different person, due to schizophrenia. At first, I thought he was just dealing with a lot of stress in his life, which would make him a little more grumpy than usually, but soon I realized that his actions and words were making less and less sense. He was slowly slipping in a state where he couldn't make the difference between what's real and what's in his head. And to this day, he's struggling with his illness, alone, confused and in mental and physical pain.
Why alone? Because his family couldn't handle it and/or couldn't understand what was happening to him. His friends gave up on him one by one, as he started abusing them verbally for no reason. I was verbally abused too. He doesn't want to see anyone anymore. He's living this life alone, because he thinks that no one can understand him and his world. And the authorities? Well, with no one taking action, they can't do much. I'm just a friend of his, and I have very little power. His family should be there for him, support him through his treatment, help him get help from a professional, but they chose to forget about his existence.
So why am I sharing this sob story instead of making an actual post related to any kind of disability? Mental illness can also become a disability. Please, please, if one of your loved ones ever gives signs of mental issues, don't just ditch them. Don't think that they are horrible people. They would hate to see themselves this way too, if they could. Help them, Support them. Don't let them become wrecks. Don't allow mental illness to strip them off of their dignity and self-respect. Treatment can do wonders these days.
Also, never EVER demonize mental illness treatment, as in medication. Some conditions NEED medication. There's no shame in taking antidepressants or anything else which helps anyone function as a normal human being.
Also, if you know someone who is struggling with heavy depression, look up the suicide line in your country and tell them to call. Those people are trained to help.
Mental illness is serious, and should be taken seriously.
With this being said, I will go back to my regular posting sometime this week. I hope everyone reading this is doing well. And thanks for sticking around despite my absence.
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