Colony-of-Losers.com presents: "Come out, Come Out Wherever You Are"

[marcie1946]

Awesome video that I can only hope helps eliminate the stigma.

My only wish was that there had been family, friends who I told about this illness, that didn't abandon me.

It's too late for me now but I dearly pray your video reaches millions, people need to know and even more understand what it does to a person!!!

marcie

[iiambe]

@marcie1946 If you are still alive and breathing, it is not too late. There are people in your life that won't abandon you, and there are people not yet in your life that would love to be. Find them. Look for a local group or message board and find them. It's not too late. Please get help.

[kaffyr]

Thank you. Well done, and true, true, true. Thanks from someone else who has had to learn to deal.

[elvisfoley]

Thank you, Michael ...

For the past year I have struggled with my worst bouts of depression, anxiety and PTSD that I have ever faced.

I have prayed for a miracle cure, I have prayed for death ... finally I prayed for a stranger to tell me that everything is can be okay.

You are the answer to that prayer.

Thank you for your courage to share your story, to stand up and tell the rest of us that it's okay to 'come out'. I hope that I can find the courage to do it ... but I'll start by sharing this.

[rbrainey88]

Well, thanks for letting me and my kids move in to the colony. Thank you for your bravery, knowledge, attitude and vision! Yes, people, like you and my kids, are truly amazing!

[neurodeviance]

Thank you. I found this months ago and have sent the links to people who needed to see it (they thank you too). I am a health care provider, in psych, and an individual with a mental illness. I cannot come out because the fact that I have been treated will make me ineligible to have the license that makes up so much of who I am.

I have used this in place of my own story, to empower my patients. I can't imagine a better way to get the point across.

[rugbybloke1]

Very welcome first-person manifesto. Respect is due to all who 'come out'

[dancetarget]

Good shit cuzzo. 

[doubledownburger]

Thanks for this. This really helps.

[trommater]

Awesome. Thank you so much.

[stillwaterrn]

Well done and thank you for sharing!

[joincrew50]

Thank you so much for making this video! Is there any way that I can support you?

[HomesickNG]

Thank you. Depression, bipolar, depersonalization/dissociation­, ADD. I haven't really come out because I didn't think anyone would be interested. So many failed attempts on my life, and no one ever knew. I'm not better, I can't afford treatment. But this helps. It really helps. I'm not alone. Thank you.

[MsTraquair]

@HomesickNG You are not alone by any means!

[bfgordon9593]

Thank you.  Just thank you.

[inbarati]

Dear Mr. Kimber,

Your experience is atypical. My response can be found at piratepurple at Livejournal.

[pinkgirlygirl1970]

Thank you so much for your bravery. This video made me cry. This illness affects one whole side of my family, as far back as my great, great Grandfather who was full blooded Cherokee and everyone since him. I am sure your work has saved more than one life, especially confussed teens who have enough to deal with as is. So once again thank you<3

[RaeAn5352]

Thank you for including people with PTSD at the end; I was wondering when we'd show up. I was diagnosed in 2008 & it still vacillates between being manageable & wholly crippling. I have a wonderful therapist & friends who support me. The hardest part about PTSD is that it's triggered by outside forces (war, rape, violence, etc.) so we blame ourselves for not avoiding the trauma -- but it's not our fault and we will live, thrive, and survive to the day when we can help others come out as well.

[mizzzzthing]

Wow - good for you! You've made a great case for encouraging people to understand better and care more.

[bently42]

Fantastic video, Mike.

-Colin Bent

[johndevlin21]

very good, Michael! Over the past 30 years I have dealt with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, anxiety and depression. Here's my contribution to your colony of losers.

Kind regards,

John

[jahmbo]

Why so much depression in the first world and it is relatively unknown in poorer countries?

[Frazzled2008]

Excellent. Thanks.

[Scuffinal]

(Part 2/2) So F*ck you stigma. F*ck you society for telling us that we are wrong and bad and unsafe. And thank you (thankyouthankyouthankyou) for all those who support me. For websites and authors and activists and artists who stand up against stigma and against hate.

[Scuffinal]

Thank you for this. I first came across this video via MindYourMind.ca. I started working with them years ago and it was with their support that I began to come to terms with myself and my illness. I suffer from anxiety, depression and a dissociative disorder called depersonalization. I will not hide. I will not pretend to be OK. I have an illness. I will reach out to support others. I will help those in need. And I will get help for myself.

(Part 1/2...comment is too long)

[TheCoffeechat]

Thanks Mike for making mental illness what it is, it's a flag that need to flap strong in a hot wind of doubt, judgement, pain and shame. We are strong in our honesty and in our vulnerabilities. We are the truest people we know. Thanks for including me in this my friend.

deb