Stigma is Stupid: One the Move for #MIAW

Its Mental Illness Awareness Week. Please “like” (or RT) if you love someone with mental illness. #weARENOTalone #MIAW

I posted that on Facebook last night, and tweeted it both last night and today. Its gotten a lot of retweets. The important message is that just about everyone is affected by mental illness, whether its you or someone you care about. So its just stupid to perpetuate the stigmas. I mean, don’t you LOVE someone with mental illness. Don’t you want to be there for them?

Eight years ago today, I married a man who loves me, even with mental illness. When I met John, he really didn’t have experience with mental illness and it was hard for him to understand. But because he loved me, he tried his best to learn and be supportive of me. And let me tell you, he has done a GREAT job.

Here are some very happy memories from our wedding day.

What you don’t see in these beautiful happy images is that the night before I had gotten drunk at our rehearsal party (I was so excited to see everyone that I forgot to eat) and I ended the night by crying my eyes out. Not because I didn’t want to marry John. I SO did. And in fact, in those moments of hysterical crying John was the one person I wanted. Rather, I was suffering from the mental illnesses of major depression and generalized anxiety, and when drinking copious amounts of depressant alcohol (and not eating) my body’s response was to break down and cry. cry. cry.

It had nothing to do with my feelings for John or of getting married. I WAS ready. And looking back over the 8 years of our marriage, I can say without a doubt, it was the best decision I’ve ever made.

But I have mental illness. And this real medical condition can do very horrible things.

It does not make me a bad person. Or a bad wife. Or a bad mom.

Those stigmas SUCK!

And speaking of, I am so incredibly honored today to be guest posting at My Postpartum Voice. The home of #PPDChat on Twitter and the #PPDChat Support Group on Facebook. Lauren is an unrelenting advocate for families with postpartum mood disorders. I am proud to call her friend even though we actually have never even “met” in real life. She’s sharing lots of great information this week during Mental Illness Awareness Week and every week on her blog and Twitter and Facebook.

Please stop by, read, like and share my Guest Post for Mental Illness Awareness Week – @MotherUnadorned – You are NOT a Bad Mom

Have a wonderful day!