Please Share
- Nathan Boroyan
- Feb 28, 2020
- 2 min read
Updated: May 6, 2020
I have Bipolar Disorder. I've done more drugs than I probably should have.
I'm an addict. I've been hospitalized for my mental illness. I've been to rehab.
It's OK to share what's written here or posted on my Instagram. These aren't deep dark secrets I'm hiding from the world--at least not anymore. I believe a fair amount of readers know this by now, but I wanted clear up any potential uncertainty. If it feels as though I'm not sharing my content as aggressively as one might suspect, that's because I currently don't have the time or infrastructure to focus on proper distribution across multiple platforms. The plan is to integrate Facebook and Twitter accounts, but for now, I'm focused on writing and creating.
A lot can get lost in text and tone on the internet. One of my fears with this project is sounding like I'm glorifying drug use, exploiting mental illness, or downplaying trauma. I don't believe anything about my content does that, but it's 2020 and I'm never really sure what could be misinterpreted. The point: If something written here is beneficial to the reader, there's a good chance it could be for someone else as well.
I'm scared shitless that I've published details about my mental health struggles online. But I'm not embarrassed. There's always the potential that someone could find this inappropriate or think differently of me because of what I've shared or will share, but I've learned to ignore those thoughts as much as possible. I know I can't control what other people think. I also know I can't censor myself. I'm at a (healthy) point where I can live with the result.
Maybe the most important victory during the course of my recovery has been being able to speak and write freely about myself. Mental illness is an important part of my story, and despite my best efforts at times, I've come to consider it detrimental to both my personal and professional lives to seemingly pretend that certain things didn't happen.
So again, please share. Post on social, email a colleague, or tell friends and family. If readers have any questions about my motives or simply want to discuss the project for any reason, feel free to reach out to me directly. I want this business to grow, and I believe the most impactful way to assure that is to make sure others know this is a resource, first and foremost. More eyeballs are good for business but also mean the message has a better chance of reaching somebody in crisis or recovery who is unsure how to start or commit to the process.
Thank you for the support. Keep reading.
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