If you struggle, or suspect you are struggling, with a psychological disorder, know that there is no shame. No matter the symptoms you suffer from, no matter the circumstances, they are not your fault. Psychological disorders are not the result of character flaws or personal weakness, but result from a complex interplay of biological, genetic and environmental factors. No matter the source of your disorder, you have the right to seek help and to be given it.

As a result of the nature of psychological disorders and the stigma surrounding them, it is often difficult to ask for and to receive help. But if you suffer from a psychological disorder and are not getting the support you need, it is vital to seek help immediately. The feelings and thoughts of inadequacy and worthlessness that might be preventing you from seeking help are just those—feeling and thoughts, not facts. They are characteristic of the disorder, not of you. No matter what you might feel or think, you are an individual worthy of care and treatment. Given adequate care, you will not only survive this current illness but recover and eventually thrive.

The Finding Voice website was constructed by a group of University of Michigan students who struggle, either personally or through family or friends, with mental health issues. We are not mental health professionals. The information on this site is helpful only so far as it is helpful to you. Nothing on this site is meant to be definitive; it simply reflects our personal experiences and the information we have gained in our struggles. This site will grow and change as we do.