 So, as a teen going into 2020 I would like to tell people to leave one thing in 2019. Please, for the love of god(s) people...

STOP SELF DIAGNOSING!!!!

 Many people who do this don’t realize how damaging this is to those who have been diagnosed. I have Major Depression,PTSD, and Psychosis. I am more than willing to explain how these things effect me, but when I hear things such as:

 -‘I’m so neat and clean, it’s like I have OCD!’
-‘Oh I’m a sociopath. Yeah I don’t care about others.’
-‘I have so many personalities! I’m so quirky!!’

No you’re an edgy little shit. This is why people don’t take people with actual diagnoses seriously. For example; I was in a building to apply for a job. I sat down to fill out the application, and a woman and a man sat next to me. On my application it asks about my mental health (Equal Opportunity Business. They ask so they are aware of how to help if something happens.) so I start putting down my official diagnosis. The woman who couldn’t have been older then her 20s peaks over at my tablet with the application on it. And then says I don’t have that Diagnosis.

Here’s how the conversation went down:

Me: *minding my own business, trying to focus on getting the application done*

Her: *taps my shoulder* um excuse me.

Me: *turns to her* hm?

Her: you can’t put that.

Me: *confused as hell* what?

Her; *points to my application * you can’t put that you have PTSD. 

Me: uh..why if I actually have it..? And why are you looking at my application? *closes tablet*

Her: you don’t have it sweetie, I know you don’t. And you were sitting next to me, so obviously..

Me: how would you know? Do you know my medical history and why I got diagnosed? No. You don’t know any of my history. And by the way, you sat next to me. *trying to be polite as possible*

Her: Only soldiers have PTSD. That’s common knowledge! *being patronizing *

[Insert the man]

Him: Actually, as a soldier, I don’t have PTSD. *shows military I.D.*

Her: Those aren’t real!

Me: *getting annoyed, and hurries to the front register* Excuse me, can I come back later to finding this?

Him: same please.

(Endless harking from the 20yr old self proclaimed ‘only knowledgeable one in the room.’)

 This isn’t just the only problem. Self diagnosing is a big problem. Google can’t diagnose you. If you are having a serious problem, and you need help, I understand that you might be afraid to tell someone. But I promise you if you tell a trusted person in your life, it’ll be worth it. I promise you that. Even though I was bound to silence until I was 9, it’s still worth it. 

Now here’s my biggest problem with self diagnosed people. People who really want help, can’t get the help they need, because of how many people fake their problems. And although you may have a very real problem, going to see a medical professional is the best way to know for sure. Attention seekers....ugh don’t get me started with that. 

Now mental illness is a stigma that isn’t really taken seriously. Please. Take it seriously. I
My illness isn’t beautiful. Don’t romanticize it.
And no, you can’t fix me