For you My Friend For you My Friend

By: Vanity Dawson

It’s hurtful to watch our family and friends struggle with mental disorders. They desire a peace of mind, yet they are suffering from the burden of anxiety, depression, fear, anger, and a plethora of other emotions. They hurry to isolation in their own world feeling different from the rest of the world. Some embrace having a mental disorder, some are still in denial. Either way, outside looking in it’s hurtful to see them battle the fight daily. It’s tough hearing they can’t get out of bed. It’s tough reading the suicide messages. It’s tough holding them while they cry not knowing why they’re crying. It’s tough hearing the “normal people” saying they will be alright or darn that sucks with little to no understanding.

Who are normal people? Each one of us are created different and special. Having a mental disorder shouldn’t count you out, but society does that, and it sucks. Watching people get disqualified because they have this or that is hurtful. They didn’t ask for chemical imbalances, or the trauma that changed their behavior and way of thinking. Everyone wants to be heard and understood and the world we live in full of “social norms” forces the beautiful people back into their own distinct world. How do we help? I run to prayer because I know there is God, my God who bring me to perfect peace. Every friend and family member have their story to tell, so I give them my attention and ear. They desire someone to hear what they went through, they want someone to understand what they are feeling deep in their hearts. They desire sympathy/empathy, so I give them that. Sometimes that’s all they need; the little things that leaves great impact to show that someone truly cares. My heart goes to my friends and family who suffer from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Trauma, Bipolar Disorder, Anxiety, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Suicide Ideation, and anything else. This is for you: Do your best to pick your head up my dear and keep moving forward. I understand you. You have every right to talk about what you are feeling, and I encourage you to do so even if it’s for days, months, and years. I’m here for you. We are here for you. There will always be someone here for you even when you have that voice in the back of your mind saying, “you don’t”. Many people are still ignorant to the meaning of living with a mental disorder(s). Embrace you, love you because God still loves you and always will.