We all experience some degree of mental pain from time to time. Life is hard, bad things happen, and it’s completely natural to experience stress, anxiety, or depression. It’s just a part of life. and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with it.
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But somewhere along the way a stigma has developed that experiencing mental illness is a sign of weakness. this stigma causes us not to talk about what we’re going through, discourages us from getting help, and makes us feel like there’s something wrong with us.
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Well guess what? That’s a load of bullshit. dealing with mental illness isn’t a sign of weakness - it’s a sign of strength. By showing up everyday, seeking help for what you’re experiencing, and sharing how you feel with others means that you’re an absolute badass.
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And the more we talk about it, seek help, and support our friends and family who experience these issues and encourage them to seek help - the faster we can end this stigma and start living a better life... and that’s exactly what i am going to do.
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This morning i am jumping on a plane to Tampa to join the Florida Bar Young Lawyer Board of Governors in our mission to end the stigma over mental illness in the legal profession through our StigmaFreeYLD campaign. And mark my words: I will be up on stage, advocating for this cause, and I will not stop until we create fundamental change that makes it easier for you, your family, and everyone else to seek help and overcome their mental illness.
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Now, change won’t happen overnight, and there’s a lot of work to be done. But in the meantime, just remember these three
things:
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1. you’re not alone
2. you’re a badass
3. i got your back
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I’ll report back with updates on our campaign and the progress we’re making. but until then, if you are having a difficult time dealing with mental illness, and don’t have anyone to turn to, reach out to me at anytime. And just know that you’re a badass, and i’m here for you.