Dear You (You know who you are),
You have been standing with me. You gave up so much for me. You never asked for anything back. I could not have come this far without you.
Mental illness can turn a sunny day grey with storm clouds. Mental illness can rob happiness of its merriment and leave soggy, stinky socks in a brand new purse. Mental illness can lie and tell you that all your best friends have turned their backs on you and that even the homeless want nothing to do with you. Mental illness can make you believe there is nothing and no one, and that you are the reason the world is not right. Mental illness can tell you that you are taking up valuable space on earth, and that it will be a better place without you in it.
We cried, laughed, walked, emailed, shared, fought, and loved together. You cared and understood. You were patient, let me off the hook, and didn't mind my silliness. You accepted my strangeness, my unexplained tears, and accepted my sadness on sunny days. When I wanted to hide, you covered for me. When I wanted something, you travelled the world to get it for me. When I wanted a hug, you gave me the biggest, huggiest loving embrace. When I was angry, you stayed silent. When I was unreasonable, you let me be. When I was loud, you didn't mind when others stared. When I couldn't bear to be myself, you loved me.
Without you, I would not dare to commit to a "Year of Wellness" and this goal would not be possible. You are my greatest supporters! I know who you are...thank you!
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Taken From: County of San Diego Mental Health Services
As we begin to understand that we can, in fact, recover from mental illness, our supporters also need to understand and believe this fact. While the personal responsibility ( Copeland, 1997) of recovery lies with us, our families and support teams also have a responsibility to encourage our journey. For many of us, our supporters have been engaged in a supportive role with us for a long time, sometimes decades. We’ve taken on the role of the person who is not quite right, who is a patient, who needs help. Our supporters have often taken on a role that engages with us, according to our identity as a person who is a mental illness (Deegan, 2003).
Very sweet to think of all the people who have been your greatest support and motivation all these years! <3
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