Breaking the silence

Sometimes, when asked to introduce myself in front of a room full of people I just want to start by saying, "Hi, my name is Shejuti Islam and I am bipolar."  While you can allow your mental illness, like bipolar disorder, to do little with the character you are, you can allow it to uphold your defining characteristics.  

I could choose to listen to people who tell me that my problem is trivial, but who would I be helping by refusing to ascribe importance to a mental condition that governs my lifestyle on a regular basis?

I want to be open about my mental condition. I want to raise awareness about it within my family and friends, in classrooms and elsewhere. I want to be open about the way I sometimes experience manic episodes, have racing thoughts and generally have a lower sense of control over myself. 

I also want to openly speak about the divine connections I often feel, the creativity that flows out of me, even the suicidal thoughts that give birth to intimate pieces of literature or art without being labeled "insane" -- without being discriminated against and without having to feel shunned. 

I don't want to do this alone because I know there are others like me with similar problems, with more unique characteristics that they are not comfortable expressing. 

So how do we bring about this change? What people need to be told is that we need to start communicating. You, your mother and father, your boyfriend and your friends and even neighbours need to talk about mental health and illnesses just as frequently as you would talk about politics, the weather, Bollywood, cricket or the latest style statements.

The social stigma surrounding something that is so real needs to be removed. We need to play an active role in this matter instead of silently suffering, instead of letting society mould us into another one of its caricatures -- following norms and keeping quiet. 

Instead of taking a back seat, you and I need to assume our responsibilities of generating an atmosphere in our homes and in our communities that would allow people to feel comfortable and at peace while talking about their problems. This is the least we owe to ourselves and each other.

By building an open environment, we increase the chances of mental illnesses being spotted and treated earlier. Maybe thus we will provide patients a real chance of chasing their dreams, maybe we will be able to prevent a suicide, and maybe we can help someone out of depression and anxiety.

I want to tell you that your problems are real. The stress you face at work is real. General anxiety disorders, depression in children and mood swings are all real problems that you are battling every day. By acknowledging these challenges we can empower people. We can save them from worthlessness and self-loathing. 

As someone who has suffered from severe mental illness for a long time, I want to assure you that facing your problems won't make them worse. You can start right from the comfort of your homes. You can start discussions with your mum, you can ignore the weird looks you get from her and you can offer words of advice to your younger brother. At the dinner table, you can announce that you are bipolar. 

By Shejuti Islam