The only way to reduce the stigma of mental illness, sexuality and trauma is through the open and honest sharing of our stories.
Do you have a story to share?
Everyone has a story. What's yours?
The only way to reduce the stigma of mental illness, sexuality and trauma is through the open and honest sharing of our stories.
Life with addiction and depression can be hard enough. But the stigma surrounding the two issues can increase the shame felt by the person afflicted to the point where recovery becomes much more difficult. For myself the feeling of being different from my peers was one of the hardest things to overcome.
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"My self-harming was perhaps the addiction I struggled with most, because as I let go of my other disorders, I craved a sense of control. Control of the body has always been my coping mechanism. I can control what I do to myself even if I can’t control what others do to me..."
-Suzie Larson
"In a perfect society, we would all come out unscathed. The trials and tribulations we face would roll off our backs like a spring rain and nothing would deter us from our potential. Sadly, this is not the case and often times we are dealt a hand that has nothing to do with our decisions but the decisions of those who have gone before us. I faced such a situation at a young age and as I grew I found myself standing on the cusp of a decision. Do I allow this revelation to continue to feast on my future, or do I dig into it, removing it from my life forever? "
- M. J. Deskovic
"I roll to my side in search of my liquor, a sense of despair looms; my bottle looks empty. I grab the hefty 60 ounce bottle of Bombay Sapphire gin and pray that there may be just enough left for one shot. Thank God there is. I drain every last drop of the alcohol in my mouth savouring the burn on my tongue and the brief feelings of relief that arise. This was my daily scenario as I approached the end of my drinking career" - Ishaq Malik
Read More"Back then, I was paralysed by anxiety and depression, staying awake all night unable to sleep the pain was unbearable. I kept on going, if only for the sake of what my family would go through if I were gone.
Aching from the inside out, even my skin hurt. I talked myself through each step to get through the day: one foot out of bed, open the blinds, open the door, walk to the kitchen, left foot, right foot. I lied to myself, promising if I could get through the day I could fall apart at night. Instead I found distractions to stay awake to the point of exhaustion until eventually I’d pass out, waking again the next day to repeat ... " - Lana Burns
Everyone has a story. What's yours?
By reading someone else's story we get to live their life, at least a little bit. We face their problems with them, experience their joys and disappointments, and feel what they are feeling. We get to see the world through their eyes and see life from their perspective.
The Share Your Story Project aims to provide a platform that will help to reduce the stigma of mental illness, disability, physical injury, trauma, sexuality and alternative lifestyles. Only through open and honest communication can we ever hope to become a more understanding and inclusive as a society.
If you would like to contribute your story, please send me an email. Ideal length of your submission is between 500 & 2000 words. Please include one photo, a short author bio, a suggested title, and a website or social link if you like. Alternatively, tell me if you want to remain anonymous.
Please make sure that your piece is original and has not been previously published elsewhere. I may ask for revisions/tweaks of editing, grammar etc.
