19th May
2018 - Why I Don't Talk About Mental Illness.
This may
seem a unusual subject on a blog about books
but it's something I feel needs to be
mentioned even though I've no desire to get
into the specifics of my illness. I've been
suffering with mental illness since I was a
child and it's not something that can be 'cured'
no matter how many years of therapy I've had
or will have in the future. When it comes to
writing I find it allows me to focus my mind
and keep me occupied, it's also allows me to
express myself in a way I would normally find
so difficult.
Obviously,
being a writer I've written a book about my
mental illness and my experiences seeking
treatment. I mention it on my website as well
as briefly mentioning that I have such an
affliction. Other than that I try to avoid
the subject altogether.
I want
my stories to be judged on their merits not
on the mental state of the author. If I write
a terrible book I'd like someone to tell me
my story sucked, I don't want them to think
it was a good attempt for someone suffering
mental illness. If I write an epic novel that
becomes a best seller I want to be celebrated
for my achievement as an author, not an
author who wrote something wonderful despite
suffering with mental illness.
Then
there's the stigma of mental illness or as it
seems nowadays the opposite. I've noticed in
recent years, especially on social networking
sites, that people will describe themselves
as having mental illness within their
profiles. I'm all for people talking about
mental health, I think it's important that
people share their experiences, but in some
cases people are branding the name of
specific mental afflictions like a badge of
honour. The problem with this is that I'm
sure a lot of people are simply making it up
or self diagnosing for the sake of appearing
cool. People with genuine mental illness are
suffering day in, day out, they'd give
anything to live a normal life. Brandishing
their mental condition at every opportunity
is the last thing on their minds.
On
Twitter if there's a mental health awareness
week, or something similar, I happily talk
about such things not hiding my illness from
my followers, but the rest of the time I shut
up about it and talk about books or whatever
subject I find interesting at the time.
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