To Those Who Don't Understand Why I'm Not 'Better' After Getting Back From the Hospital
To those who don’t understand why I’m not “better,”
The reality is I live with mental illnesses. Four to be exact.
While I did just spend 45 days in the mental health inpatient unit at the hospital, it does not mean I am cured or miraculously better. Since being home, things have been rough and at times, very rough. But the difference is I now know how to cope better and have supports to help me.
At the hospital, they don’t just wave a magic wand and make everything better. Some people expect me to be a completely new person. Even after being discharged, I am constantly working on new coping strategies, finding things that trigger me and learning how to manage daily living.
So please don’t ask me things like “So, are you better now?” and “Are you no longer sick?” and “Were you able to get rid of your mental illness?” Please just be there to support me, understand the road is still long and winding and while I may have great days, weeks or even months, I will still have struggles.
Sincerely,
The girl who is just trying to cope
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Thinkstock photo via Transfuchsian.
Justine McNeil is a child and youth worker honours graduate from Ontario, Canada. She is a passionate motivational speaker, sharing her personal stories to advocate for mental health as well as creating awareness on social and global causes by using what she has learned through travelling with Me to We to Ecuador, Kenya, India and Arizona for their Advanced Facilitation Training. Her speaking engagements have included speaking at WE Day, events for Me to We, Jack.org, Niagara Public Health and various schools and organizations with Ontario. In 2015 she raised and donated $10,000 to Free the Children to build a school in Kenya and her work and stories have been published by Stigma Fighters, The Mighty, in various newspapers and for Me to We marketing. When she’s not speaking, planning her next volunteer trip or working at a local school, Justine enjoys photography, listening to country music and spending time with her family. For inquiries about booking Justine to speak at your next event, please visit www.justinemcneil.com
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