Emily Rachelle Writes

This post happens to be my 600th ever written, and my first written or published for 2016. I never planned it that way -- actually, I didn't plan to write this post until just now, at one a.m. in bed -- but I guess God knew I was ready for a big one. About a year ago, I came out online as bisexual, through a blog post that shared a journal entry from the previous November. I told a handful of people before I posted anything. When I did have my "coming out," it wasn't really a coming out. It was just part of a series sharing many thoughts and struggles I'd had over my first college semester, which happened to include sexuality. Since then, I've referenced my sexuality in certain Facebook posts, maybe a few blog posts, a handful of conversations with friends. I want everyone to know I'm bisexual, because it's part of my identity -- like writing, or Christianity, or my family. But I don't want to shout it from the rooftops, because it's not ...

I read a book this summer that came highly recommended. I was planning to review it, but... well, things happened. Events transpired. I decided not to review it, at least not yet. I'm ready now.

When it comes to mental illness, I like to be the champion. The advocate. The information bank just waiting to enlighten and educate you. A source of awareness, a spark for understanding. But the whole world of mental illness and living with one is just as new to me as it is to many of the people I'm trying to help understand. I'm still learning, and now that I'm back at school, it feels like a crash course. And I think a lot of people with mental illnesses can relate.

Recently I discussed mental illness with a good friend. She compared mental illness to a broken bone, gesturing to her leg. "You can see the broken bone, there's something that needs to be fixed." But think about internal bleeding. Can you see that? Or lung cancer. Is that outwardly visible? Not until scans or tests are done are many illnesses and injuries visually noticeable. We first notice symptoms, then seek out the cause, and treat from there to alleviate symptoms and prevent further problems. Why is mental illness any different? As research and technology in this area improve, we see more and more proof that brains affected by mental illness are physically and chemically different from healthy brains. There are plenty of symptoms of mental illness. Why don't we look for them? Notice them? Mental illness, untreated, can lead to complications as bad as the inability to complete basic daily tasks or even death. Why don't we seek out treatment before these...

Until your friend stands and looks you in the eye explaining why mental illness isn't the same as physical illness... Until your professor refuses to let you make up an exam and get full credit after missing a medicine dose caused a missed class session... Until your school requires you to get a three-page sheet on disability filled out in order to accept that your mental illness is real... You don't understand. Not until it happens to you.

Remember Grammarly? I've worked with them a little in the past here on this blog. This week featured International Literacy Day, and to celebrate, Grammarly designed an infographic about literacy. I thought you, my lovely readers, might be interested in their results.

Bella is a newborn vampire.