Chapter 3

Confidence.

It is natural to feel like shit when first diagnosed. You go through ups, you go through downs. There will be nights of no sleep and days full of caffeine and nicotine. There will be good days. Be confident that there will be. You will face challenges, but be confident that there will be breaks in the clouds, the rain will stop, and the sun will shine eventually.

The cloudiness, the foggy mind, the side effects. Be confident that you will find the right series of meds for you. Maybe you are lucky enough that you won’t need meds. IF you are put on meds, read the labels. And of course, be confident that there are many who have also been prescribed the meds that you are probably on right now.

Finally, when it comes to confidence, hold your head high and straighten your shoulders. You are a madman. Be proud. Not everyone thinks like you, so see yourself through a different mirror. You are blessed to have mental illness.

Don’t believe me? That’s fine, you will. In time.

You will see the experiences that you have had as a beautiful wild ride. You will find meaning in yourself and meaning behind the madness. Isn’t that what we are all searching for? Meaning?

One more thing about confidence: Know in your heart that you can live with the struggle, and you will. That’s really the secret. The more you believe that you can make it out of the storm, the better you will be.

All you need is confidence.

 

Jason Wright is the editor and founder of Oddball Magazine. His column appears weekly.