Own Your Stigma

Hey there Vocal!

My name is Chloe. I am a 25 year old mom of two-soon to be three.

I have written about my mental health before but I want to sum it up in little blurb.

I battled post-partum anxiety and depression with my first child. I took anti-depressants and those seemed to work for a little while. However my battle with mental health got a little more challenging for me. I got diagnosed with bipolar disorder and C-PSTD when my daughter was only three months old.

Flash forward to three years later, I have now found myself with two psych-ward visits under my belt, a mental health nurse that comes to check in on me, my amazing counsellor whom I have been seeing for over two years and a great family doctor and a brand-new psychiatrist. With such a great team like this set in place for me, I wonder about the days where I used to plan and end my life.

I signed up to be a brand ambassador for a mental health clothing company called Own Your Stigma and by some form of luck, they chose me to represent their brand. I love them, and everything that the brand represents. A portion of their clothing sales goes to mental health organizations.

Everyone is affected by mental illness.

No one is defined by it.

Own Your Stigma was created to open up the conversation around mental illness and help remove all shame, negativity, and guilt that our society has attached to it.

Our goal is to encourage us all to own and embrace our struggles and be okay with opening up, even if it is to a complete stranger. It is important that we share our experiences and stories to heal ourselves and others.

We hope to evolve into a platform for individuals to connect, meet, network, and share their stories with others all over the world. Whether you've battled with mental illness personally, or experience it through a loved one, we are with you, we support you, and we want to learn from you.

Taken directly from Own Your Stigma "Mission" page

If you are interested in supporting me on this journey, please use this coupon code to purchase your own clothing from Own Your Stigma. Use the following link to receive a 15% discount off your purchase.

15%ROSEFEARLESS

Mental health is nothing to be ashamed of. The fact that I lost good friends and family after being in a psychiatric hospital bothers me. It shouldn't be shamed, your mental health should be honored and respected.

I found the right people to surround myself with after I lost quite a few good friends and coworkers because of my mental illness.

I found myself drawn to speaking up about mental illness because mine is so misunderstood by my loved ones. All someone that is struggling with mental health wants is to be seen, heard and loved for who they are. Not judged and shamed.

A simple conversation can save someone’s life.

I hope this post resonates with someone that needed to see this today. Don't forget, you are not alone in the world and if you are struggling with mental health there is always someone out there that would rather listen to you than hear about your death. I am one of those people for your information.

National Suicide Hotline Number: 1-833-456-4566

I don't have much, but at least I still have me (I still have me) . And that's all I need . So take my faith, but 'least I still believe (I still believe, in me) . And that's all I need . I don't have much, but 'least I still have me.

Demi Lovato, Still Have Me

If you want to check out more of my mental health pieces, here is a link to a few of them that I have posted on Vocal down below. Thank you for reading.

Chloe Rose Violet