Personal Narrative: My Experience With Mental Illness

I don’t know. Is that a genuine answer? Considering my lack of understanding and experience with mental illness, my answer seems rather fair coming from the perspective of an upcoming college student. I suppose I could offer an intellectual explanation regarding my uncle's portrayal to the world with statistical data, interviews, witty quotes, and what “psychologists” have to say… but does it count? If I were someone with a mental illness, would I really enjoy the idea of someone telling me how the world views me (the reader) when they (the writer) have no substantial evidence of what it is truly like living with such an illness? I suppose I could gather data, conduct research, and come to many conclusions, but the description of mental illness, the struggles and hardships, are not always scientifically reasonable. There are small details of information that linger in the everyday lifestyle of an individual suffering from mental illness. Details, that without first hand experience, would not be properly portrayed in an article written by someone who only has science on her side.

Besides, who am I to conclude how one is seen through the many individuals existing in the world?

How does the world perceive an individual suffering from mental illness? Well, that depends on an individual's concept of the “world.” One world could easily exist of everlasting support, while another could be a swirl of judgement and ridicule. The world exists of fluctuating opinions. Opinions are hardly ever valid as society evolves, new information is gathered, and an individual's mind changes almost as quickly as the thought can be processed. I can not form an adequate hypothesis based on the opinion of five individuals when there is a population of 7.4 billion and each of that 7.4 billion have their own opinion that differs from the opinion before

them.
I need consistency, as a writer I need to know that what I am writing is not some falsely composed facade that I created just for the opportunity of publication. I must be honest, raw, and at times, the bearer of “tough love.” No, I can not tell you how the world views you. There are simply too many people and too many opinions to come to a conclusion that I find adequate and appropriate to publish. No, I can not tell you what it is like living with a mental illness. As someone who lacks experience in the posted topic, I can not offer a validated conclusion as to what I believe living with mental illness is like. Yes, I can write and describe emotions I have never felt before. I have empathy. However, mental illness is not an emotion and should not be branded as if it will dissipate when the doctor hands you a bandage and a lollipop. It is more than that. If I want myself to remains honest, I must not base my conclusions on invalidated research. Honesty comes from experience. Experience comes from living. So, how could I provide an explanation for an occurrence without understanding every waking detail that lies in the course of their particular lifestyle?
Well, if I am being honest, I can’t. I was asked how the world views my uncle Gabe and I don’t know. However, I am sure he would be happy to explain the opinions he has heard and how they affected him if you wish to ask. As someone who has lived with a mental illness, Gabe can offer a response that does not rely on the statistical data, but rather relies on experience. He can do what I can not when approached with the topic of mental illness: Tell the truth