Dear Neighbour.

I know you sometimes wonder about me.  Why do I the things I do?  I mean, I look normal - same as everybody else, so why am I not?  I don’t know if you’ve ever heard of hidden conditions, but there could be someone suffering even in the same house with you that you don’t even KNOW has a problem.

But right now I want to talk to you about Mental Health Awareness week.  You might not know this, but it is actually a REAL problem among the disabled (and physically well) community.  I know you see it coming up year after year, but I wonder if you REALLY understand the significance?

I am sure you have heard at least ONE person pontificate how people shouldn’t use mental health as a means to get out of working, or going to school or whatever it is.  And they should just get up, stop moaning and get on in life.  I know you have heard some similar comments because I have heard them too, whether the person talking knew I was able to overhear or not.  

Can I tell you something?  Mental health problems are REAL and impact you not only in your mind, but your body, too.  And if it was a simple as just “pulling yourself together and getting on” I can assure you, WE WOULD!  This isn’t something we choose to do but some chemical imbalance or other health issue that causes it.  Sometimes the person suffering doesn’t even know themselves.

So please, when you hear/see/read the stories of different people during the week, please don’t discount them.  I can assure you that most of those suffering don’t want to be!

Yours as ever

The Invisible Patient