My Name is Jackie.

My name is Jackie.

My name is Jackie and I’m 25 years old. I’m originally from a small, rural town in Eastern Iowa and now I live in a larger town, still in Eastern Iowa. I graduated with my Master’s degree in Biology just this past May. After I graduated, I moved home with my parents for a little while (and had a temporary job), and in October, started a full-time job as a research assistant in a pediatric infectious disease lab. I love the colors purple and teal and am slightly obsessed with TLC & the Food Network. In my (newly found) free time I like to read, spend time outdoors, do arts & crafts, and hang out with my friends & family. I’m a faithful Catholic and attend Mass each Sunday. My God & my faith give me life.

My name is Jackie.

My name is Jackie and I experience mental illness; not just one, but two. I experience both depression and anxiety and I’ve been experiencing them both for years. I recently read a blog post about someone using the word experience instead of suffering. Her reasoning is that although there is A LOT of suffering that goes with mental illness, there are lots of experiences as well. As someone with a mental illness, I experience life just as you do. Ok, sure, I may experience things differently (and I may need medication to make sure that the chemicals in my brain are balanced enough for me to feel things), but I’m still experiencing them. I too, have my highs and my lows; my good days and my bad days. I experience friendships & heartbreaks; happiness & sadness. What I want you to know is that I am a person who experiences mental illness; I AM NOT my mental illness.

My name is Jackie.

My name is Jackie and it’s taken me years (and tons of reminders from some amazing people) that I AM NOT my mental illness. Depression is not who I am. Anxiety is not who I am. Your mental illness is not WHO you are; it is a part of you. Of course, mental illness has helped to shape the person I am today, but I like to think (and sincerely hope) that it’s changed me for the better. It’s taught me to rejoice in and celebrate the little things. Some days that’s getting out of bed before hitting the snooze button for the 3^rd time; sometimes it’s getting out of bed at all. I have learned that there are no victories too small to celebrate when it comes to mental illness. Mental illness has taught me that the big victories are even more sweet for someone like me than for someone who does not experience mental illness. I recently started a full-time job; something I questioned if I’d be able to do during some low points in my graduate school career. That is a big victory and it has propelled me forward in continuing to seek help/treatment for my mental illnesses.

My name is Jackie.

My name is Jackie and I want each and every one of you reading this to remember that. I am a human. I am a person. I am NOT my mental illness. Please see that I am a dedicated, hard-working, and caring young woman. See that I am quiet, but can be obnoxious once you get to know me. Please recognize that I am fun-loving even if it takes a bit more prompting and encouragement to get me going. Please see me as Jackie because that is who I am.