Participant Four: A

“The frame has a qur’anic verse ‘And he is with you wherever you are.’ This is an important reminder for me when I am feeling very low or lonely. Sometimes when you have a mental illness you can feel very alone and feel that nobody understands, but it is a good reminder to remember that Allah (God) is always with you, especially when you are feeling very low, and feel that there is nobody there for you.”

“My bed is often associated with my depression. When you are feeling depressed, it is often difficult to leave your bed, and this is the place where I often feel the worse. In the mornings it can be difficult to wake up, so it often feels like getting out of the bed is a major part of my illness.”

“My blinds represent the difficulty of mornings, and sometimes it is difficult to open the blinds and start the day. When they are shut the room is dark, and I often feel trapped with my depression and thoughts. However, there is hope. When I am able to open the blinds, light fills the room, and I am able to see again, and hopefully start the day. Opening the blinds is overcoming negative feelings.”

“I felt that it was important to take a picture of my medication, as this is often a part of your treatment when you have a severe mental illness. I used to think that medication was unnecessary to getting better, but now I understand that with any illness, medication can help to control your symptoms. I also feel that there is a stigma attached to taking medication for a mental illness, which doesn’t happen when you have a physical illness, so for me it’s important to show that with any illness, medication is an important part of treatment.”

“The card has an affirmation ‘I am perfect exactly as I am.’ This is an important reminder for me and everyone who suffers from a mental illness. Sometimes people or society in general may make you feel less than you actually are, when in reality there is nothing wrong with you. Having a mental illness does not make you any less of a person, and you are prefect even with an illness. It doesn’t define you and the illness isn’t a reflection of your true self. The illness is not you, it is only something you are experiencing.”