Skip to main content

Giving A Name To Your Mental Illness

If you've read my blog before, you will have noticed my "Dear Becky" series. To amend any confusion, Becky is my GAD (anxiety).
A mental illness. It's an evil entity, but it only fights for its own survival. No-one could really say that's wrong, as that's what we all do. But when a survival method becomes destructive, it's hated and loathed. 'Becky' seems like such a trivial name to give something so dark.

They say giving something a name gives it power, and that's why I held off. But when the name was christened, the power was thrown onto me.
I didn't feel weak anymore.
I was able to take control. Then Becky wasn't such a dark entity anymore.
She was still strong, capable of corrupting my mind, taking over my body, paralysing me.
But I had grasped some control.
I was determined to fight for my own survival, as Becky had fought for hers. She had fought long and hard and was no stranger to overkill, but with the simple act of naming 'It', I was finally ready to retake myself, to retake my mind.

When that fear was lost, I became more powerful than anything Becky could ever throw at me. I was able to prevent her from possessing my body and make it act under her will. I could frighten away the thoughts she forced into my brain.
At the thoughts of dying, Becky sometimes became more aggressive, and would win a battle here and there. But I am determined that I will win this war, and she will no longer infect my mind.

All minds are terribly susceptible to corruption. Minds are fragile and influenced in some manner everyday. Our minds are frightening, and mental illness scares even the bravest of us.
If we don't understand, we are scared. If we don't understand, we ignore.
And when we ignore the mentally ill, their minds can be wholly infected with a dark ocean.
Sometimes, we are beaten down into the darkness with just a simple word.
Minds are so vulnerable.
Sick minds are not weak. They are not crazy. They are not inhuman.
Becky is a part of me. Millions of others have their own Becky, and that's ok.
We'd prefer to be without them, but they make us who we are and we are so much more than our mental illnesses.

So fight your own Becky. Think of them as a little monster inside your head that you're not afraid to confront. You can fight them, and even if it takes a hundred shots, you'll win.
A warrior should never stop fighting, and should never be afraid to ask for help.
Help is never a sign of weakness. It's a sign of humanity and strength.

Whatever your Becky, know a light is there, somewhere.
You just have to find your way through the darkness to find it.

Hope you enjoyed this blog post, and hopefully it'll help you or someone you know.
I post every Wednesday, but for reminders, you can follow me on these social medias;
Facebook; justaoifethings
Twitter; @justaoifethings
Instagram; justaoifethings  (I don't always post about blog posts there though)

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Cycle Against Suicide

An organisation set up by Jim Breen, where thousands of people cycle through Ireland every year, to break the cycle of suicide. Cleverly placed pun. Today, the lovely Mr Breen came to my school and talked to all seven hundred plus of us. In the back, wearing a disgustingly bright orange shirt in support (and feeling decidedly Dutch), I was struggling not to cry. Not that he was being morbid. He didn't delve into details of his depression, or any gruesome details of suicide. He spoke in such a way that was amazing. He spoke to us in a way that reached all levels of understanding in relation to mental health. He was able to educate those who have never experienced a mental monster, without boring them, or frightening them off the topic. Though, even with such sensitivity, he was able to touch those who had suffered mental illness. It was like a little nod to us. We knew we were understood, that he understood. For me, that is always extremely emotional. For someone to understa...

Dear Becky

Dear Becky; A new series I intend to continue. Becky is a big part of my life. Becky is my anxiety. If you have read my previous blog posts, you will know that naming my anxiety has given me great control and power, but Becky is still alive and can be strong. I find great comfort in writing things down. It helps me to think rationally, something Becky fights hard to prevent. Dear Becky will be my writing to Becky, to counteract the anxiety that she's called me. I will write to see what is real and what is Becky fuelled. Will you find it interesting? Maybe not. Unless you're interested in a mind corrupted with anxiety. I know my mental health is the most important thing, and if it helps me cope with life, then that's amazing. If someone reads this, and learns how to deal with their own mental illness or learns how to understand someone in their life with a mental illness, then even better. Dear Becky, You were strong today. I don't know why. But I didn't let ...

The Birds of 1916

Birds flew high over Dublin City When the first shot was fired Startled, they watched As the famous street descended into chaos Roars were thrown Screams struggled to stay in Tears drowned But nothing stopped Men from two sides If they could even yet be called men Attacked eachother And the birds could not figure out why A hundred years later The blood had long been gone from the famous street And something was different in the air ~ It's almost the centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising! We remember the men and women who fought for Ireland to be a free and democratic nation, those that died in the fight and those who were executed after to set the pathway for a new nation. I felt the best way I could commemorate this was to do what I know best; to write Hope you enjoyed! I write a new blog every Wednesday Facebook: justaoifethings Twitter: @justaoifethings Instagram: @justaoifethings