Sunday 5 January 2014

Mental Illness Isn't Glam, Honey

So I was scrolling through my Facebook newsfeed, and I saw somebody had shared this photo from the Urban Outfitters website:

 
 
I'm sorry, but what the fuck? Who designed this? People are just getting so stupid when it comes to this issue, they really are. As if depression is something desirable that people want to wear on a goddamn T SHIRT. I mean, I see people on Twitter whose display names are stuff like 'feel sad today' like really, if you really felt that sad would you make it your fucking DISPLAY NAME? IT'S NOT COOL. It's not something you want to be! It doesn't make you look beautiful or funny.
 
To be honest, I do blame Skins a little bit. I mean, that was a great show, but people idolised Cassie and Effie way too much.
 




Yes, Cassie and Effie are beautiful girls, they manage to make tragedy look beautiful, but it's not. It's all well and good watching them from the comfort of your sofa without actually feeling their pain (I know it's just a TV show, but it is supposed to be realistic, and these are all very real situations). No, you DON'T want to be like Effie. No you DON'T want to be Cassie. You want to LOOK like them.

And don't get me started on the amount of photos of self-harm are on Tumblr and shit that make it look like this beautiful, whimsical, black-and-white, I'll-get-my-Oscar-any-day-now act. I mean I've seen girls who cut themselves and then take selfies with the cuts in full view as if to show off. It's disgusting. I've also known people who genuinely suffer from mental illnesses, and I've seen the devastating effects it can have, and let me tell you, if they ever post anything on the internet about it, it's for support, or to give support, it's not to show off.

These are real problems people face, OK. So stop glamourising them just because you're safe in  your mental health!

I think people should add all of these to their list of New Years Resolutions:

I will NOT..

-use the word 'anorexic' to describe somebody who is thin
-say that I'm 'depressed' because something slightly bad happened
-take selfies with cuts for attention
-glamourise mental illnesses in any way, shape, or form.

OK I'm done, bye, sorry for such a serious post, I'll do something more light hearted soon...
And Happy New Year to everyone! I hope 2014 brings everybody joy and that they fulfil their resolutions!

What are everyone's resolutions by the way? Mine is to stretch every day so by the end of the year I will be able to do the splits/a heelstretch (and generally be a better person etc)

Tegan xo


6 comments:

Furree Katt said...

This is a great post - I think glamourizing things like mental/eating disorders are awful, and using major disorders for minor feelings (such as 'depression') are not okay at all. Happy new year, Tegan!

Paige Rhianne said...

completely, completely agree with you! gah your blog is so good, you make some really good points! I seen they had a tshirt on their website that said 'eat less' which is just absolutely no reason for it and its disgusting! I've never idolised either of Cassie or Effy and i simply only want to be them to look like them because as you said they are beautiful girls! lovely post girlll x

heldtogetherbypins.blogspot.com

Paige Rhianne said...

completely, completely agree with you! gah your blog is so good, you make some really good points! I seen they had a tshirt on their website that said 'eat less' which is just absolutely no reason for it and its disgusting! I've never idolised either of Cassie or Effy and i simply only want to be them to look like them because as you said they are beautiful girls! lovely post girlll x

heldtogetherbypins.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

AMEN TO THIS! See far too many things online making all these things sound cool, it's horrible to think what kind of effect it can have on genuine sufferers! x

Hannah | www.JeMappelleHannah.blogspot.co.uk

Unknown said...

Seriously, amen! It's disgusting what people do just to make a few extra bucks.

www.thegarmentrag.com

Jessica said...

I saw an article about this tee the other day. I cannot comprehend what would make a store think it would ever be okay to sell a tee like that.

Tracy @ Sunny Days and Starry Nights