Social media is a blessing and a curse. It creates the illusion of “perfect” lives and constant happiness; both of which I know not to be true. As lovely as the idea is no one can happy 100% of the time; life just doesn’t allow this. We all have battles, big and small, and we all have emotions (believe it or not 🙄). Some of us just deal with these slightly differently, and this shouldn’t be seen as a negative, it should be embraced instead. Imagine a world where you were accepted exactly as you were – flaws and all. Wouldn’t it be incredible?

Recently I saw a post on social media that really got to me. As irritated as I can get about things, it takes a lot to really rile me up in this way. I felt a huge amount of injustice and disbelief at someone’s pure ignorance to mental health and people in general. This post stated that a lot of people are jumping on the anxiety and depression “bandwagon” – seriously? If this disorder was a choice I’d be jumping straight off this wagon at the earliest opportunity, trust me! The thing that bothered me the most was that what this person clearly didn’t realise is that the reason it’s becoming apparent that there’s alot of people with anxiety and depression is because people are actually beginning to TALK. The one thing that everyone who is an advocate for mental health has been battling for, for years. People are beginning to open up and be honest about their thoughts and feelings. People are beginning to get help and accept their disorder. The “bandwagoners” are more than likely people who have suffered in silence for years. And now they are finally feeling able to talk.

I, for one, couldn’t be more happy that this is happening. The more we talk, the more we learn, the more we accept. All of this will in return help people who suffer from mental health issues. If it shows them they’re not alone in this; if it pushes them to confide in someone; if it helps them get through another day: it is worth it.

The last two years have proved to me how important it was to talk about how I was feeling or what crazy thoughts were buzzing around my head. It has shown me the people who are willing to stick by me when I’m bad; and laugh with me when I’m good. It has shown me that although I have this disorder, my life doesn’t suck. It’s not shit, worthless or boring. It’s hard and certainly not the one I’d planned for myself, but it’s my life.

And I am so very lucky to have that.