Need a cover story

Does anyone have a cover story as for how their life turned out the way it did? For me, the answer is mental illness. I am relatively young and of course I know how to be professional when needed and steer things towards "positive" things, but today I was questioned about life choices and all I could say was "I have a history of mental health and was going to stop existing by nineteen, so how can I say, for example, that I chose my college wisely, and now that I have plans for the future, how can I say anything else than "I'm still at this college, which doesn't have the strongest program for my field because I am just starting to heal and I didn't have enough energy (and good grades) to transfer (in fact I almost dropped out) and now it's too late?"

Pretty much my whole (short and so far inconsequential) life has been determined by my mental health issues and what led to them.

I wasn't prepared for the questions and in this situation I had to answer so I pretty much told the truth and let's face it, the truth is triggering.

How do you deal with these questions? Do you tell the truth?

Sorry I hope this question isn't insensitive. I can be pretty stupid sometimes.

I dont use my mental illnesses as reasons why my life turned out good or bad. short version where I live we have American Disability Act laws. this is where people cant discriminate or consider mental illness in things ....unless... the mentally ill are asking for accommodations for living, work and such that will enable them to be able to function and live just like a normal person.

I have on the other hand told the truth... this or that didnt turn out the way I wanted it to because I made the wrong choices. yes having mental illness sometimes made it hard for me to make the right choices in my life but I do not use my mental illness's for an excuse for things like my behaviors, what choices I make and all that.

even the justice system does not just allow someone to explain away the crimes through saying not my fault it was my mental illness. there is a mental illness defense but even that comes with rules and proving the person was guilty except for mental illness and then the person is remanded over to a long term treatment facility until the treatment providers report to the court that the person is well enough to stand trial or is no longer a danger to their self and others.

my point if the justice system and laws do not allow a person who does wrong just blame it on their mental illness and get away scott free there is no reason why I should use my mental illness or a cover story to explain why my life didnt turn out like someone elses. I accept responsibility for my actions basically. I have dissociative disorders, bipolar disorder MS but that doesnt excuse the fact that I have to follow the same standards/ rule and such as even normal non mental disordered people do.

That was nice of you to point out. I didn't know that information about the justice system. It's great that you have identified a source of power that you trust and that has helped you to shape how you act. You must be a stand up person.

I am not blaming my life on mental illness. I have never asked for, or received accommodations.

But at the same time, you cannot excuse the fact that the why behind the choices made is the WHY. It is, simply put, the reason. You cannot say you made choices without a motivating factor. Otherwise they are not choices. And in most cases, in my short life, there is not another reason why. I'm not making excuses, because the mental illness was me. I'm not making excuses; instead, I'm self aware enough to acknowledging that yes, I struggled and did not succeed. Knowing why will help me succeed next time.


I think it is a symptom of our mental issues that lead us to view ourselves as failures. So, when I get a question about my life, I go on the defensive and think about bad things.

What I mean by cover story is rehearsing (and I need to rehearse because of my propensity to see myself badly) the good things that go into a choice or circumstance. It is not a lie. It is the truth. The next time someone asks me why I stayed at my college, I will tell them many things:

1. I am a first generation American. I have no traditions. I wanted a college with a lot of history that is important to me on a number of topics, including feminism and education for women. And I found it. It has tradition, recognition, and a history. I joined a family.

2. As such, I am surrounded by strong women and a college that devotes itself to the cause.

3. My academic department may be small and not the "best"; however, its small size allows me to leverage their resources to my advantage. I get academic and professional attention one on one from professors. I am writing an honors thesis and can shape my experience. I find myself in a uniquely qualified position.

4. et cetera.

I will not, however, say the following, which are also truths, perhaps the truths that are most personally/socially true:

1. That I was severely depressed and actively suicidal, so I could not muster up the energy for academics or transferring after I recovered a bit and realized what I wanted to major in.

2. That I was overwhelmed by my earlier failures, and aware that my parents did not want to see me beyond supporting my college education financially, for which I am grateful, but could not bother them with these issues.

3. That I was alone, and because of my upbringing, had to be taught to reach out for help from my resources.

You see?

I'm not blaming mental illness. I'm taking the whole picture into account. I think owning mental illness is a responsibility, too.

And, rehearsing a cover story isn't out of shame. But there is a palatable way of framing things for society that doesn't scare people off.