I Have a Mental Illness, but It Doesn't Make Me Incompetent

I’ve been asked a couple times recently what I want people to know about me as someone living with mental illnesses. My answer almost every time I’m asked this question is the same.

I want people to know that I am competent.

Yes, I struggle with mental illnesses. Every day of my life I choose every action carefully in order to best accommodate my illnesses. I wake up every morning not knowing how hard that day’s fight is going to be, but still I wake up.

I like using the verb “fight” when I speak about my struggle with mental illness because is shows that it is work. It shows it is not easy. But fights can be won. It might not be easy, but it is possible.

So I wake up every morning to fight and I go about my life. My mental illnesses don’t control my whole life. I am still able to get my everyday activities and chores done.

I just finished my first year of college. During that time I lived alone in the dorms. I was responsible for getting myself to my own doctor appointments. I was responsible for taking my medications. I was responsible for my own meals and self-care. I was responsible for making sure I kept up on my coping skills so I wouldn’t down spiral. I was responsible for making sure I went to my classes and did my homework.

I was a peer educator and set up events to speak to students about depression and suicide. I completed a national peer educator certification. I was involved in Anchor Club, a club that provides support for and advocates for students on campus with disabilities. Next year I’m going to be the president of that club.

I don’t tell you all this to be like, “oh look what I can do.” I’m telling you all this to show I am still able to take care of myself. I tell you this to show you my mental illnesses don’t stop me from doing anything I put my mind to.

It doesn’t happen often, but there have been times I’ve felt people don’t take me seriously when they find out about my illnesses. At times, I avoid telling people who are higher up than me for fear they will no longer see me as competent.

I don’t want to do that. That’s the main reason I speak out as much as I do, because I want to do anything I can to break the stigma attached to mental illness.

So that’s my message today: Yes, I have mental illnesses and yes, I am just as competent as anyone’s else.

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Thinkstock photo via cyano66