Please Don't Yell at Me for Having a Mental Illness

Please don’t yell at me. It only makes it worse. It makes makes me feel even more judged than I already do because I know somebody doesn’t like what I did or said. It makes me feel even more alone, like more people are against me.

Please don’t yell at me. I can’t control it. You might think I can until you’ve stepped into my shoes for a day or even an hour. Your yelling makes me feel worse than I already do about the situation by making me feel like I did something wrong by being myself or by stating my opinion.

Please don’t yell at me. I’m trying my best, I promise. I know you don’t think I am because I’m not getting any “better,” but it’s not that easy. Every day is a struggle, and each day is a little bit different. I have good days and bad days, and any day can change in a single moment. I get that you don’t understand, but sometimes I wish you just did. I wish you could read my mind so I wouldn’t have to tell you my thoughts because it’s scary, it’s hard, and it makes my words feel pointless.

I know you don’t understand and maybe you never will, but if you could try to learn or if you even just thought about your words and how they might have an impact on me before you spoke them, it would make for an easier time for the both of us.

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Thinkstock photo by alien185