The Horrendous Glorification of Mental Illnesses

This is a fair warning, I am not a professional when it comes to mental illnesses. I am simply someone who just had experiences. I am here to share my opinions and thoughts. If you are struggling, please reach out for help. They are available everywhere. Stay safe.

Now, mental illnesses is not an uncommon thing to have. A lot of people have it even when they don't know it. But once it's out there—trust me—it's out there.

I'm not saying that mental illnesses should never gain recognition; but when it has gained some recognition. It's gained it to where people self-diagnose themselves. Claiming certain things because it is a trend a lot of people follow. But this is a dangerous thing to do. Mental illness isn't like clothing you put on and put away in your closet till you feel like wearing it again. It comes when you least expect it; and not a lot of people can handle it. But from the years of tumblr to today, it's being poorly shown to the public as something you have to have in order to maintain a good status as a creator and a person. When you really don't.

You see most of this with influencers coming out with videos telling people, "I have anxiety," "I have depression" "I have adhd" and ect. I mean, these people could possibly really have these mental illnesses. But we never know if they really have it, or if it's just a publicity stunt to relate to more audiences. We will see these as the creators trying to show us that they're people too. That they struggle with things that we struggle with in life; that they can be a raw character.

This "I am a raw character and I would never trick you guys" trope is seen a lot on social media; especially Youtube, Instagram, and Tik Tok. It's not bad to show people your hardships in life. But influencers forget that being an influencer means that you have people who admire you. This is a variety of age audiences, especially teens thinking that they need to be the worse in order to show others that they are the best.

What is worse is when you see these influencers gain not just views and followers—but money. Again, mental illness is not a piece of clothing you wear till you get bored and say never mind. It isn't a fashion accessory, people struggle with these things and it gets worse when you can't control it. But see people who wear it and think mental illness is just an emotion like being sad—when it's not.

In addition though, influencers are not the only things that glorify mental illnesses. You'll see it in entertainment as well. And these entertainments ranges from music, paintings, and films. These are just as powerful as social media influencers.

One of the main films that caused a controversy for mental illnesses would be a Netflix series called 13 Reasons Why. Films like 13 Reasons has shown us a warning signs for depression. But the way the depression was handled is poorly done and showed no realistic depiction on what really happens and what really drives people to feel the way they feel. Depression rates are high due to these types of films that trigger a lot of people too.

Another type of film that depicts mental illnesses poorly are romance films with a protagonist struggling to survive but live on because they found someone who accepts them. Making the ending sound like that's the end of the mental issues. That mental illnesses will be cured if you found a significant other. When this is totally false.

You don't ever find yourself over it when you get with someone romantically. There are always struggles. By the end of the day, the one person who can truly change your course in life and help you overcome these struggles is you. You change your mind and perspective in life. You have to want to change yourself for the better. Start showing gratitude and realize the good around you. That's when you find yourself at a good spot. Not because someone found it for you.

This kind of thing starts to add turmoil to relationships making it toxic. Thinking you need that person 24/7 because you can't live without them. When in reality, you can if you just learned how to love/live with yourself first. That's how you maintain a strong relationship hold.

These types of mindset has not just been around for 2020. This has been around for ages. Making the depression demographic not go down but up. Causing more harm to society and not good. This is what I see a lot, and I speak up for it for those who feel like they can't say anything because they don't want others to think that they have a mental illness for the fashion.

We are all human beings in the end. But we got to remember the good things in life are out there. Like what my favorite musicians Sleeping At Last says, "The universe is meant to be seen by your eyes,"