It is officially mental illness awareness week, but what haunts me is the title of the week. Study after study continues to show that positive words make a difference. So why are we still calling mental uniqueness, an “illness”?
I personally struggle with a host of mental health styles. One reason I love the word NeuroStyle, coined by Dr. Denise McDermott, is because it helps us focus on what matters.
My OCD, my bipolar, my depression, my ADHD, and my generalized anxiety, all things I face and conquer each and every day, are not “illnesses” but a roadmap of my journey, or steppingstones that shaped me.
Anyone who is not familiar with the depth of my struggles should understand that I do not take this stance lightly. Make no mistake, the troubles my mind made for me caused despair and unimaginable damage to myself, my loved ones, and many of my friends, including my bank account.
So the question becomes, how do we rebrand mental health so that it is about mental fitness, instead of mental illness? Attached to this blog is a scientific link to a published journal, showing the connection between intellect, schizophrenia, and bipolar. There is scientific evidence to show why we don’t need to cause unique challenges an illness.
Illnesses or something we need to rid the world of. My struggles with mental fitness, something I have called my mental health for years, were just like anyone’s fitness. We are successful on a diet, the holidays come around and we suffer a setback and gain a few.
I do not intend to make light of serious issues, as I contemplated taking my life many times, and was luckily unsuccessful multiple times as well. However, it is time for us to stand up as a collective humanity and look for the good that comes from the differences in our minds, harnessing the massive potential so many do not see because they are shouldered with a label that destroys their potential and their belief that they can succeed.
I ask you, as someone who has overcome and will continue to fight to maintain a fit mind for the rest of my life: Please, let’s reframe mental health, starting with what we choose to celebrate as mental illness awareness week.
Warmly and with hugs to everyone,
~Kirk Patrick Miller ✨
@Chaos2Cured (IG/Twitter/CH)
Mr. Kirk Patrick Miller is a professional speaker, mental health advocate, and radio personality. His book “Chaos to Cured” and his contact information can be found at www.chaos2cured.com.
———————— Disclaimer ———————
Mr. Kirk Patrick Miller is not licensed to practice medicine. His opinions are not meant or intended as mental health advice or guidance of any kind. Should you need help, please reach out to a mental health professional. If it’s an emergency, please call 911. (Suicide hotline: 1-800-273-8255)
