MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH: Tell Your Story: Stop the Stigma (October 2025)

@Oaktree can be so hard to have that realisation - especially like cos for me I'd hear my dad's words, but in my own voice in my head. So it always felt like 'my idea' - and easier to believe without questioning it.

I hope you've been able to build up a decent internal voice to counteract hers, and help reassure yourself 😊💜

@Oaktree I resonate with what you said about feeling/thinking I was "defective".

I struggled with a long time with the reality that I could not do things "like everyone else". I could not cope with life "like everyone else". I felt I was broken. I felt I was not made/designed for this world.

Most people I meet do not understand chronic or severe mental health that may be underneath what they see as I am high-functioning outwards in my worklife and social life. When someone hears that I work part-time the most common answer is, "Oh, that's nice. Long weekends every week." I used to just give a little smile and not correct them. But now, to increase their understanding/perspective (as most are well-intent) I simply reply that "actually, it's because of health conditions. I can't work more than x-days, and I need to spend the extra days resting. I don't get paid for my non-work days." It usually makes them pause and think for a moment, and I hope that helps people be more aware of invisible/hidden illnesses.

I had an experience earlier this year where a coworker began a (complaint) conversation with my manager with "I know she has depression, ...".

But this one has a better ending - my manager stopped them immediately and said that was personal life information, not work/professional information, and if it was not a relevant factor needed to be put aside. The support of that manager in standing up for me when I was not present, and in fighting back on the stigma of 'mental illness' being used as a blame/accusation, has meant the world to me.

I have had to accept I am "different" to the statistical average person.

I cannot work full-time.

I cannot live completely independently longterm and maintain my wholistic health.

But you know what?

I am still a good person. I am a valuable person to my close friends and family.

(This was a long journey to being able to truely accept it emotionally, not just logically).

@AlwaysMyself

Thank you for sharing your story.
I am so happy to hear that your manager stood up for you. That is such a great step in the right direction.

You are a good person and are not broken.

Good on you for knowing your limits where it comes to your work week. I think it’s great for awareness that you discuss it so openly with others. I hope to be able to work in the future but I don’t know that I could manage full time, especially at first. I would probably have to work up to it.

Hi thier @tyme really my condition was unmanaged in the early stages and that really concerned me. But after adapting to changes and a order I was told to take a medication along with some other conditions, I went on using through this period and going through court cases dealing with difficult emotion, honesty was a hard one I new I had options but couldn't seem to make a decision as time went on I got into legal issues later. 2 years later actually and after receiving a settlement payout I seemed as to lose a grip I had been through recovery physically for an injury but just lost my mind you could say it was a terrible experience but atheist I still felt some type of feelings but nothing could overcome my addiction. It continued on for several years, hospital visit...breaches to my order and a serious drug problem, I was considered "stable and stationary " but none of that made sence, im still working on my feelings now. I might add, having a porn addiction didn't help especially using to enhance that addiction to sex or the site of it, funny, I wasn't having sex myself I was just the kinda guy seeing it from the outside, I couldn't get away from the phone and and then it happened psychosis I started screaming in the streets and looking for love, a very strange way to find it. The use didn't ease until I found recovery again. I found meetings and other people who had experience this on just about the same level. Im now clean and today im a much better person and have not had an episode since 2021 and have remained of drugs and alchole for some time not triggering that old stuff. Ive cut back on porn, but still affect my mental health to some degree. Im still searching for answer but very grateful today that im alive and doing well. Thanks

TW: mentions abuse/violence, death, substance use/abuse, etc

i honestly cant remember last time feeling safe was unquestionably safe disected in hind sight,

todayi had enough time as my self to remind myself happiness is constantly in me, always and i deny it when i forget (which is one of them knowing stress is self inflicted by failing to assess the situation differentlly doesnt mean i can t) type things.

only because i believe my true measure is how i see i am not how i am see.

, took a lot of being hurt, disapointed , sense of failure and shame till and other negative things and destructive habits tilli realised it which has been last few years.

i hadnt been safe since 10 i had always thought trauma was war of first responders and i been working since 14 full time

being a scrawny kid construction labourer meant never being able carry as much as others i was 4yrs younger than next youngest who was just a bigger kid anyway at the time though work was my life i had only been in oz school for couple months prior so no friends or anything to compare too 14 to 17 i was always falling short always stood over to make weak adults feel superior and no access to girls my age and trying way too hard to belong be a part of, i was shown how to earn money never how to save so older fellas that liked my money as a way to get things they couldnt from having families and that mixed with my need for belonging saw me on hard party drugs and exessive drinking.

thinking i was cool and tough not aware i was being used and when i found out was when i met new people at raves and stuff and could get things half price what my 'friends' got it for

this started as another post and too much writing to delete im going have a shower.

sorry if TMI i left a lot out

Hey @REDLINEZ750,

Thank you so much for such a vulnerable and honest share.

I am just sitting with your story at the moment and wondering how you're feeling now? 💛

im ok @AuntGlow just skimmed over or past any thing that can trigger

was sposed to be a highlight post till iit wasnt haha

i kept it pg for guidelines and not spiral myself

I am glad you're feeling okay now @REDLINEZ750.

What have you been up to today? 🥰