BREAK THE STIGMA

Follow me as I post facts and videos about mental illness and the stigma that comes along with it. This is my life's work and dedication to try and open people's eyes to the normality of people living with this disease.

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Same Love

"Same Love"
(with Ryan Lewis)
(feat. Mary Lambert)


When I was in the third grade I thought that I was gay
'Cause I could draw, my uncle was, and I kept my room straight
I told my mom tears rushing down my face
She's like "Ben you've loved girls since before pre-k tripping, "
Yeah, I guess she had a point, didn't she?
Bunch of stereotypes all in my head.
I remember doing the math like, "Yeah, I'm good at little league"
A preconceived idea of what it all meant
For those that liked the same sex
Had the characteristics
The right wing conservatives think it's a decision
And you can be cured with some treatment and religion
Man-made rewiring of a predisposition
Playing God, aw nah here we go
America the brave still fears what we don't know
And God loves all his children, is somehow forgotten
But we paraphrase a book written thirty-five-hundred years ago
I don't know

And I can't change
Even if I tried
Even if I wanted to
I can't change
Even if I try
Even if I wanted to
My love
My love
My love
She keeps me warm
She keeps me warm
She keeps me warm
She keeps me warm

If I was gay, I would think hip-hop hates me
Have you read the YouTube comments lately?
"Man, that's gay" gets dropped on the daily
We become so numb to what we're saying
A culture founded from oppression
Yet we don't have acceptance for 'em
Call each other faggots behind the keys of a message board
A word rooted in hate, yet our genre still ignores it
Gay is synonymous with the lesser
It's the same hate that's caused wars from religion
Gender to skin color, the complexion of your pigment
The same fight that led people to walk outs and sit ins
It's human rights for everybody, there is no difference!
Live on and be yourself
When I was at church they taught me something else
If you preach hate at the service those words aren't anointed
That holy water that you soak in has been poisoned
When everyone else is more comfortable remaining voiceless
Rather than fighting for humans that have had their rights stolen
I might not be the same, but that's not important
No freedom till we're equal, damn right I support it

(I don't know)

And I can't change
Even if I tried
Even if I wanted to
My love
My love
My love
She keeps me warm
She keeps me warm
She keeps me warm
She keeps me warm

We press play, don't press pause
Progress, march on
With the veil over our eyes
We turn our back on the cause
Till the day that my uncles can be united by law
When kids are walking 'round the hallway plagued by pain in their heart
A world so hateful some would rather die than be who they are
And a certificate on paper isn't gonna solve it all
But it's a damn good place to start
No law is gonna change us
We have to change us
Whatever God you believe in
We come from the same one
Strip away the fear
Underneath it's all the same love
About time that we raised up

And I can't change
Even if I tried
Even if I wanted to
I can't change
Even if I try
Even if I wanted to
My love
My love
My love
She keeps me warm
She keeps me warm
She keeps me warm
She keeps me warm
Love is patient
Love is kind
Love is patient
Love is kind
(I'm not crying on Sundays)
Love is patient
(I'm not crying on Sundays)
Love is kind
(I'm not crying on Sundays)
Love is patient
(I'm not crying on Sundays)
Love is kind
(I'm not crying on Sundays)
Love is patient
(I'm not crying on Sundays)
Love is kind
(I'm not crying on Sundays)
Love is patient
Love is kind

Monday, May 6, 2013

May is Mental Health Month

Stand up for mental illness. Help breakdown the stigma. Share your knowledge with someone who is less informed. This must be a community effort. Communities are the heart and soul of society. Made up of people that can do anything. Stand up in your community and share your knowledge of mental illness. Spreading the word through communities is how to reach as many individuals as possible. Educate your community. Educate YOURSELF!

With the proper medication and therapy mental illness can be controlled. There are many studies being conducted as you read this having to do with mental illness throughout the world. This is nothing new. It has been plaguing people since the dawn of man. There is an implant that releases serotonin in the brains of people with severe depression. That same device cures the symptoms of Parkinsons. There are places like the key clubhouse (www.keyclubhouse.org) that helps people with a mental illness get back on their feet, learn the job skills needed in today's ever changing world, or helps them go back to school. The ultimate result being a productive member of society. They help you along the way and ultimately find you a job that best suites you and the job, and get you back on your feet.

I spend my days fighting for mental illness because I have met hundreds of people that have a severe and persistant mental illness varying from schizophrenia to bipolar disorder, depression, PTSD, and sever anxiety disorder to name a few. They have now recovered and are giving back to society, not draining society's resources. They are great people that have gone through hell and back. A mental hell that is almost unfathomable, an illusion of a horror story.  

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

the words of a fighter

I have a neurological disorder. But I don't let it stop me. Don't get me wrong, it does limit me, but I fight tooth and nail to continue on this journey. A journey where I don't know where I am heading. A path that forks in many ways and I have many options to choose from. I live day to day on many different paths. I learn from all of them, some more painful than others. The hardest part is to continue on this journey I have found myself on.

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

I feel like my skin is crawling and my stomach is in knots, and I have no idea why. Help.

Thursday, July 29, 2010

interesting

Interesting article on Osama Bin Laden's 4th son.

http://psychcentral.com/news/2010/07/12/omar-bin-laden-and-bipolar-disorder/15503.html

Sleep

Sleeping is definately not my forte being that I didn't sleep a wink last night. I stayed up played my guitar and painted. I learned Redemption Song by Bob Marley, and painted a bright sun for my living room with shells all over it. I am sure I will be wide awake all day, because this happens frequently. My brain will be of no use and my comprehension is shot, but I am staying optimistic and still doing what I have to do today.

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

"Today is the greatest day I've ever known"


That quote, for those of you that don't know, was written by Billy Corgan the day he was going to commit suicide and is about his last day on earth. The ironic thing is that the song changed his mind and as most of you know is not dead.

I had a rough day. But it was because of my ADHD. I know a lot of people believe that it is over diagnosed, but believe me, I have it bad. Yesterday and today I was without my medicine and it was horrible. I slept all day, was depressed, when I was awake there wasn't anything that could keep my attention for longer than 5 minutes. I had to get up and walk out of a meeting. I had to leave work early. I realized today that sometimes my bipolar can be as difficult to deal with as my ADHD. Tomorrow will be a better day because I got my medicine. YAY!