Importance of removing stigmas

My post yesterday generated an out pouring of support, support that I really needed right now and that I am grateful to have received. I am 41 years old and I have been struggling with these major depression episodes since I was a teenager, they come on suddenly and may last weeks or months. I have been blessed to have a wonderful wife who understands and supports me through the ups and downs and two wonderful children. My love for my family and my own internal sense of duty and honor has been the source of my perseverance through the years, giving me the strength to push through my episodes of depression as well as my physical health issues in order to support them and providing for their needs. Many years ago I swallowed my pride and sought treatment and it has made a world of difference not just in the quality of my life, but in the life of my family. My wife Phoebe knows when I miss my medicine and will ask me when she notices my mood swings going askew.Now the medicine is not 100%, I still go through these cycles but I am better able to handle them when they do occur. The fact that I was able to articulate in yesterdays post how I am feeling right now, to give voice to the raging conflict inside me is a great leap. Writing this post as well is a long drawn out process, I am still going through this tug of war inside, trying not to let my mind react to these physical manifestations of emotions but I am pushing forward. Additionally there is the added stress of pulling back the curtain on my life, I am a very private person but I feel that it is important to talk about my struggles. Just as the words of encouragement I received since my blog post have helped me, I know that there are others who suffer in silence who could use encouragement as well. That is one of the reasons it is so important that we get rid of the stigmas that surround mental health problems.
There are many different types of depression; situational, seasonal, cyclic, physical damage to the brain, etc. What they all have in common though, is that those who suffer are fathers, mother, sons, daughters, friends, loved ones. When those who are suffering do so in silence; fearing what others will think, they withdraw or lash out which causes a ripple effect. If we as a society accept that mental illness is just like any other health condition we could be better equipped to get ourselves or a loved one to the doctor when we notice that something is wrong. With something like cyclic depression there are times when that trip to the doctor should be akin to taking someone with a heart attack to the emergency room other times just to a doctors office.
That is why I am taking this stand, why I am putting myself out for the world to see. I am not ashamed of the depression, anxiety or mood swings; it is just a part of who I am. I know that I am not alone, there are many who can read what I have written and understand what I am going through and I want them to know they are not alone either.