[Lauru]

So, I've been suffering from mental illnesses since i was about 12. I am now 37. I got my BA in psych and thought I wanted to be a therapist. Then I got really sick and realized it wasn't something I can do. So now I want to go to grad school, a lifelong dream of mine. I want to get a MA in social psychology and hopefully a PhD after that. I want to do research and teach at the college level. Specifically, I want to do research on prejudice and stigma of people with mental illness, it's causes and effects. So I guess I am just asking for a good wish from anyone. It is a big step and I am afraid of failing and realizing that my mental illnesses have won and that my dreams will never be fulfilled.

[NuckingFutz]

Your goal is terrific! It is an area in need of a lot of attention! It seems even the mental health agencies are spreading stigma these days. Good luck to you!

[Rapunzel]

Go for it!

I really relate to this. I wanted to be a psychologist when I started college at 18 years old. A professor made a comment in a lecture in a large psychology intro class about the field not wanting people with their own issues, and I gave up on it. I picked another major and kept taking psych classes just because I was interested. I gave up on having any career at all by the time I was finished with my undergraduate degrees. Several years later I went back and I took a fifth year as a psych major once again, and completed my master's degree in counseling a year ago and now I am a therapist. I'm 40 and just getting started, but here I am. You can do it too.

I'd love to collaborate with you on research on the stigma of mental illness. Especially among people in this field where we are trained to be accepting and advocate for minorities and people with disabilities and anyone disadvantaged, but the field is less than accepting towards people with the very problems that we are treating. It doesn't add up. I think it is getting better, though.

[phoenix47baby]

You have my support!