I am so glad you are taking the time to read this. So, I begin with a question: what exactly is a survivor? 

A survivor is someone who, "continue(s) to function or prosper despite (hardships)". But it also has a deeper meaning. 

When people hear the term "survivor", they usually picture someone battling cancer or have come out of situations that threaten not only their ability to live but also hope, dream, and see positive outcomes for the future. 

What does society mean by the term survivor? Think of those who have gone through a natural disaster, a toxic relationship, or even a car wreck.  These people from those situations can be called survivors in their eyes. 

If any of you have survived any of these, then that is wonderful! However there is something else that I am getting at here. 

Depression, bipolar, PTSD, and anxiety...what do they have in common aside from the fact that they are serious medical conditions? As I mentioned earlier, society sees people that have gone through events that from their experience, would greatly impact their everyday lives or would threaten their need for the bear necessities of life as being worthy of the title of "survivor". Feelings and emotions are seen as abstract and within our control. Those of us with mental illness get pushed aside and treated like children and sometimes told by professionals to keep our emotions in check. Or we are treated like those that are complete detached from reality. How unfair! 

Finally, I drive the point home. What do our condition(s) that effect our mental and emotional health do to us? That's right. And we persevere, keep going despite it all, and eventually will thrive in our own way. 

Whenever you don't feel that you are understood or are sinking into an emotional pit, remember who you are. You are a survivor, no matter what society says. Survivors unite! 

Feel free to follow my posts or make comments below.