From Stigma to Support: A Mental Health Journey Over Coffee
Leigh’s journey with mental health began long before her bipolar disorder type II diagnosis, marked by cycles of deep despair and boundless energy. While the diagnosis brought clarity and tools like medication and therapy, it also exposed her to stigma, with many reacting with disbelief or denial. This article explores the tension between society's performative embrace of mental health on social media and the persistent fear and misunderstanding surrounding mental illness, highlighting the gap between awareness and genuine acceptance.
Leigh’s journey towards understanding her mental health began long before her official diagnosis. Extended periods of overwhelming low mood had signaled an unnameable shift within her, a deep despair that settled heavily in her chest and stomach. For months, her sanctuary was her bed, her movements limited by an invisible weight. Then came the sudden flip: boundless energy, sleepless nights, paranoia, and ultimately, a hospital stay. A diagnosis of bipolar disorder type II soon followed, offering clarity amidst the chaos and a roadmap towards recovery—medication, psychotherapy, and connection with others who shared her experience.
While the diagnosis provided Leigh with the language to describe her struggles and tools to manage them, it also exposed her to the harsh realities of stigma. “At first, I was open about my diagnosis,” Leigh, now 36, recalls. “But I quickly learned that people didn’t know how to react. Many chose disbelief—some family members even insisted I’d been misdiagno