For 10 very long years I have suffered from an illness that seems to be striking more and more people every year. I was diagnosed with an anxiety disorder in 2006, and in the last 2 years diagnosed with a more severe panic disorder. As a result, I also suffer from hypochondria and a mild depression. Over the years I have learned so much. More information about mental illnesses, the different therapies available, but most importantly, I have learned I am not alone.

According to the Canadian Mental Health Association, 20% of Canadians will personally experience a mental illness in their life time. They state that approximately 8% of adults will experience major depression at some time in their lives. Anxiety disorders affect 5% of the household population, causing mild to severe impairment. However, one of the most upsetting and disturbing statistics I had found out was about the suicide rate. It states that suicide accounts for 24% of deaths among 15-24 year olds and 16% among 25-44 year olds. In modern age, suicide is one of the leading causes of death in both men and women in their adolescence to middle age years.

These statistics are unacceptable. We have a multitude of “cures” for most mental disorders, whether that is taking preventative measures or current therapy measures. There are simply not enough resources available for the ever growing mental illness populous. Wait times for sometimes seeking one of one help for suicide prevention can be months, and many times, it is too late….

I may not have the ability to add more psychiatrists or psychologists to the field, or increase the number of group therapy programs available, but there are other ways I can help; by sharing my own story and my own battle with anxiety and panic disorder. When I was first diagnosed I remember feeling so alone and so scared. I felt like I was the only one in the world experiencing this and no one could understand or relate. I was never offered counseling or psychology help until my more recent years, but by that point my panic disorder was already considered “severe”. Looking back, one of the biggest supports I could have used was simply talking to someone who was going through what I was; to let me know that everything would be okay, that they suffered the same illness and they were doing just fine.

I only have one hope for my blog, to help, to help even one person and I can be satisfied. And even if I couldn’t help one person, I hope to educate the rest of the population on the struggles we endure every day; to provide more understanding and sympathetic ears in this crazy world we live in.

Thank you everyone for your love and support!