I’m taking 5 minutes to help break the stigma around mental illness, as part of the Time to Change ?#take5 day. So I’m writing something quite personal today.
I’ve suffered from 3 episodes of depression, the most recent of which left me mainly just lying in bed achieving little apart from watching 7 seasons of Grey’s Anatomy. All were caused by too many life changes at once and pushing myself too hard. I am fortunate that a mixture of counselling, alternative therapy and medication meant I recovered. My friends without exception accepted me.
This is quite a big deal to post. However, I think it’s important we know that mental illness happens to 1 in 4 of those around us, even (especially?) the ‘strong’ personalities.