Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none.
William Shakespeare
Speaking up for myself has not always been easy. It wasn’t until I got sick that I started to find my voice. I’ve always been shy, quiet, and introverted. Honestly, I still am in some situations, I don’t think that it ever goes away, I can just improve. Speaking out about mental health is very important to me. I choose to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves. There’s a horrible stigma surrounding mental health and it makes me physically sick. I’m not ashamed to say that I was severely depressed, and I was having suicidal thoughts, because it is not anything to be ashamed of. I was able to get the help that I needed, and now I’m here and able to talk about my struggles. My dad is a high school teacher, and last month I went to work with him and spoke to a couple of his classes. I truly think that it was the most important thing I have ever done. I was real, and raw, and honest and showed who I truly was. I talked about my chronic illnesses and my mental health journey and recovery. I had so many kids come up to me crying afterwards telling me how much I helped them. I was so happy and so thankful that they got something out of my story, and honestly they helped me more than they will ever know, and for that I will be forever grateful. I never ever thought that my story would be important enough to be shared, and now it is. I’ve also learned to use my voice through my experience living with numerous auto immune diseases. I want to educate people about the different things that I go through. I’m in a very different situation than normal 21 year olds, and I understand and accept that. I know that a lot of people want to ask about my illnesses, but they are nervous or afraid to. And I completely understand that, it can be an uncomfortable conversation. So I speak about it first, so that people can read or listen to what I go through, and then if they are comfortable enough after they will ask questions. So, if you’re reading this, and have a question, please ask me, I will always answer. Another thing that has been new for me over the past 3 years, is how protective I’ve become over the mental health/chronic illness community. I think I’m more protective over mental health because of the stigma that’s around it. I do not think that it is okay to joke about mental health, or make fun of someone who has a mental illness. If you have never struggled with mental health/illness you have absolutely no right to make a joke out of it, because you don’t understand what these people go through and struggle with. So I’ve learned to stand up for it, and to speak up for myself. People don’t ask to be mentally or chronically ill, I know that I certainly didn’t. But this is my real life, and I get through it the best that I can, and believe me it’s not perfect. I make mistakes and have really bad days, and take my anger and frustration out on people that don’t deserve it. But I work really hard to be the best version of myself that I can be, illnesses and all. My advice to all of you is, don’t let anyone talk down to you, or tell you that certain things aren’t worth standing up for. If you feel like it’s worth standing up for, then DO IT. Admit when you are wrong but stand up when you are right. Be real and open and honest, and don’t give a damn about what people think of you. Your mental health matters and don’t listen when people tell you that it doesn’t. Learn to use your voice, it’s powerful. People always ask me if a part of me is happy with how my life has turned out, and in a weird way I am. Having to struggle and fight through my illnesses has made me tough and a lot stronger than I ever thought I was. I’ve developed the strength and the confidence to fight for what I believe in. I have finally discovered my voice and I have used it to help people and, most importantly, to stand up for myself and the people that I love the most. I have never been more thankful to be me.
Chronically Elle 