Monday, July 6, 2009

Unwell

"Unwell is about having a despondent relationship with yourself. In the end, it's a positive song, because you come to terms with the fact you're not crazy." - Rob Thomas of Matchbox 20

To me this song is about feeling alone or isolated from the rest of the world because they see you as not all there. Over the last month I was judged because of my chemical imbalance and made to feel as if I was crazy. This song reminds me that as long as I know the truth it doesn't matter.

all day
staring at the ceiling making
friends with shadows on my wall
all night
i'm hearing voices telling me
that i should get some sleep
because tomorrow might be good
for something

hold on
i'm feeling like i'm headed for a
breakdown
i don't know why

[chorus]
i'm not crazy i'm just a little unwell
i know right now you can't tell
but stay awhile and maybe then you'll see
a different side of me
i'm not crazy i'm just a little impaired
i know right now you don't care
but soon enough you're gonna think of me
and how i used to be

see me
talking to myself in public
and dodging glances on the train

i know
i know they've all been talking 'bout me
i can hear them whisper
and it makes me think there must be something wrong
with me

out of all the hours thinking
somehow
i've lost my mind

[chorus]

talking in my sleep
pretty soon they'll come to get me
they'll be taking me away

Some Facts on Mental Illness

I am on a personal mission to educate the public on what it is like to live with a mental illness and the stigma that follows such a diagnosis. Mental illnesses (depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, etc.) are widespread and often misunderstood.
  • Only 42 percent of Americans believe that a person with mental illness can be as successful at work as others.
  • Only a little more than one-half (54%) of young adults who know someone with a mental illness believe that treatment can help people with mental illnesses lead normal lives.
  • Despite the fact that an overwhelming majority of Americans believe that people with mental illnesses are not to blame for their conditions (85%), only about one in four (26%) agree that people are generally caring and sympathetic toward individuals with mental illnesses.

Historically, mental illness has been seen as a “problem in upbringing” or “defect” in a person’s character. For many years, the general assumption of society has been that mental illness is a direct result of “bad” parenting.


However, just as diabetes or cancer often runs in a family, so does mental illness. “The more we learn about mental illness, the more it appears that it is similar to other routine medical problems that have a genetic link or base,” says Paul Tisher, MD, Medical Director of The Acadia Hospital. “It has been assumed that the patients are somehow responsible for their illness; we know now that this is generally not the case.” Mental illness affects 30 to 45 million Americans. Whether he or she is suffering from a simple phobia or schizophrenia, these illnesses involve certain aspects that interfere with one’s ability to cope with every day life.

Mental illness knows no age, income level, race or gender. Though statistics show that certain illnesses may have a higher percentage of men diagnosed than women or vise versa, no illness targets just one group. Many Americans do not realize that the feelings they are suffering from may need professional treatment. Research indicates that only one in five persons suffering from some type of emotional or mental disorder seek and receive the help they need. This statistic is especially tragic since most mental illnesses are treatable and can be controlled or even cured through therapy and/or medications.

People who suffer from clinical depression often feel that their life is pointless. Suicide may be thought of as the only solution. Statistics show that a large percentage of people who attempt or commit suicide have experienced recent bouts of clinical - depression.


Emotions are often difficult to control and hard to manage. Sometimes, depression can set in without any apparent influence, making it difficult to attribute to any specific factor. Depression can also come in response to many outside factors.

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