2023 was a doozy of a year. I was ready to put all my efforts into my blog by posting weekly content and making printables for my shop. Then life decided to throw some pretty sour lemons in my direction. Needless to say, the stress did not help my bipolar disorder. I needed to take a step back from a lot of things. The opportunity to become an amabassador for Own Your Stigma helped light the fire under me to start back blogging.

I’d heard about Own Your Stigma earlier in 2023 and really liked a lot of the items in their shop. Finances have been so tight lately, though, that I couldn’t buy anything.

In December I was on Instagram when an add popped up for Own Your Stigma. Curious, I read it and realized it was the opportunity to apply to be an ambassador with the company. I’ve always wanted to partner with a company I believe in and support, so I followed the link to apply.

To be honest, I hesitated for a few hours. At first I didn’t think I would be a good ambassador. I have (clearly) had difficulty staying consistent with blogging. Plus, I don’t have a very wide audience yet. Would I even be able to help spread the message of Own Your Stigma?

My fear of trying almost kept me from applying. At the end of the day, though, the worst that could happen is getting turned down. Is that really the end of the world? Even if my application wasn’t accepted, I could still wear their merchandise and share their message.

To my surprise (and honestly, delight), my application was accepted!

So far I’ve been able to buy two shirts. They’re so comfortable. They fit well and the fabric is so soft. One of their shirts has the option to customize it, and this is what I chose to put on it:

Very fitting for me, I think!

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Why is it so important to talk about mental health?

Because there are still so many stigmas surrounding those of us with mental health diagnoses.
Because our voices deserve to be heard.
Because we need equality.
Because too many people are afraid to talk about their experiences due to others not listening.
Because there are still too many jokes and sayings that incorrectly portray mental illnesses.

I’m still learning the balance of how much to share with certain people, especially those who don’t know a lot about mental health. It’s a process. But the reason I share my story here is to provide a safe space for people to come. My goal is to have this be a place of safety where you can come as you are, unashamed of who you are.

Together we can Our Own Stigma and make the community a better place.

If you’re interesting in supporting and getting your own Own Your Stigma shirt, you can use the code STIGMAFREE15% for 15% off your order.