Today's post is for all the friends and family members, who have someone in their lives who suffers with Mental Illness. There are people in my life who don't understand that I have a disease, and I'm not just suffering the Blues. 

I am going to give parent's, friends and others in your circle some advice about what and what not to say:

I'm here for you: 
What to say: You're not alone.
What not to say: There is always someone worse off than you are.

You matter: 
What to say: You are important to me.
What not to say: No one ever said life was fair.

Let me help:
What to say: Do you want a hug?
What not to say: Stop feeling sorry for yourself.

Depression is real:
What to say: You are not going crazy.
What not to say: So you're depressed, aren't you always?

There is hope:
What to say: We are not on this earth to see through one another, but to see one another through.
What not to say: Try not to be so depressed

You can survive this:
What to say: When all this over; I'll still be here and so will you.
What not to say: It's your own fault.

I'll do my best to understand:
What to say:I can’t really understand what you are feeling, but I can offer my compassion.
What not to say: Believe me, I know how you feel. I was depressed once for several days.

You won't drive me away:
What to say: I’m not going to leave you or abandon you.
What not to say: I think your depression is a way of punishing us.

I care about you:
What to say: I love you. (Say this only if you mean it.)
What not to say: Haven’t you grown tired of all this “me, me, me” stuff yet?

We'll get through this together: 
What to say: I’m sorry that you’re in so much pain. I am not going to leave you. I am going to take care of myself, so you don’t need to worry that your pain might hurt me.
What not to say: Have you tried chamomile tea?

If you, a friend or a family member is suffering with Mental Illness, please show them this blog post. If your family or friends have said any of the negative statements, make them read this post. 

Please don't allow people to bring you down. Don't let people make you doubt your illness. People are so insensitive and ignorant about Mental illness. Please share your story on this post. We need to raise the Awareness of Mental Illness, and those of us that live with this day by day, are the best eduators.