19. Blogging through the lens of mental illness
A woman with black eyes covering her face with a white paper with a smiley emoji on it
When I first thought about starting a blog, the idea felt overwhelming. The fears were almost paralyzing—what if I couldn’t write well? What if I exposed too much of my personal life and was judged for it? These fears were deeply rooted in my struggle with mental illness, a battle I had fought long before I even realized what was happening to me.
Before I received a medical diagnosis, my mind was a maze of confusion and self-doubt. In high school, my ability to concentrate was severely impaired. Simple math problems became insurmountable challenges, and writing an essay felt like an impossible task. The fear of failure, of not being able to perform academically, seeped into every aspect of my life, including my ability to express myself.
University only magnified these struggles. My mental health deteriorated to the point where I could no longer function in a traditional academic setting. I withdrew from my program, convinced that I was incapable of succeeding. The fear of exposing my weaknesses—of putting my thoughts into words that others could judge—became too much to bear.
But when I finally received a diagnosis, something changed. With the right support, I began to understand the root of my fears. I realized that my struggles with mental illness were not a reflection of my worth or abilities but a challenge to be overcome. And in this realization, I found the courage to start blogging.
Blogging became a form of therapy—a way to confront my fears head-on. Each post I write is an act of defiance against the mental blocks that once held me back. It’s a way to share my journey, not just with others but with myself. Through blogging, I’m able to process my experiences, reflect on my growth, and celebrate the progress I’ve made.
The fear of writing is still there, but it no longer controls me. Instead, it drives me to push beyond my limitations, to find clarity in the chaos, and to use my voice in a way that I never thought possible. Blogging has become a crucial part of my healing process—a way to reclaim my life from the shadows of mental illness.
The reference artwork
