They used to throw people like me into institutions against our will and drive ice picks into our skulls to make us normal again if the drugs and “torture” didn't work first. We were considered less than human, disposable animals to experiment on or use as pharmaceutical test dummies . Viewed as a bother a burden to society.

I was born the same year lobotomies were banned, 1967, when they switched to electric shock therapy instead. It's been 50 years since we've been recognized as human beings, but still treated as disposable; discarded and
overlooked.

Much has changed since '67, I can sit and publicly share this post right now without fear of being outcast or demonized. There's not one single person reading this right now who hasn't experienced a chemical imbalance in their lifetime; it happens to us all. Situations, relationships, experiences etc, all affect the production of chemicals needed for the human body to function properly. Most of us recover from these bouts of "Mental Illness" , the chemicals rebalance and life moves on....

For many of us, these chemicals don’t rebalance, they remain static and create serious health and psychological issues. Distress...minus the causing stressors, it's a chronic medical illness. An illness that if managed properly, people suffering can live healthy full and productive lives.

Here's the problem; Getting care for this medical illness that nearly all of us endure at some point in our lives is next to impossible to get, inadequate and most always lacking quality training or medical care. Since…There's been major “improvement” and facilities across the country that are now available, hospitals specifically designed to treat mental illness.

Yet, here rests the problem, speaking from personal experience….

Many of these new private hospitals dedicated to mental healthcare come with slick looking buildings, yoga classes and great looking people;
I've been to a few. The last one put me in an empty room by myself with nothing but a bed for 24 hours a day. I was allowed into the Grand Commons' area where there were tables and a TV but if I wanted to sit down and watch it, I had to bring the chair from my room:)

The yoga class they advertised ended up being a few matts tossed in front of a TV with videos of Yoga playing each morning. No joking.

I was allowed to have a cigarette every 4 hours but we all had to crowd into a chain linked covered "cage" outside like animals.....for our protection of course:)

It was nothing but a money making machine using people like me, babysitting us in cages while charging insurance companies
top dollar for the luxury Hospital/Spa experience.

Why was I there?
Because I wanted to treat my anxiety disorder and get better.

I signed out AMA (against medical advice) and had to fight for it, the hospital tried to exert authority to keep me there.
I signed myself in for treatment, but they ultimately say when I can leave. I was eventually able to sign myself out.

I couldn't tell anybody about my schizophrenia until 2004 when I finally told my mother. I told some friends too, the same one's I'd known for years and since, they’ve pretty much all disappeared. Most people, understandably are taken aback by it and to be honest, it
scares them. We live in a society where the worst of the illness is sensationalized to make movies and TV or wonderful punchlines for
comedians or scape goats for society’s transgressions.

When in reality, people with mental health issues can be found in every corner of our lives, whether we know it or not, friends, family, co-workers…..normal everyday people trying to make it through life while fighting a disabling illness.
No Hannibal Lecter’s, but millions of beautiful souls.

This is why we started The ZUGU Project. To use the gifts God's given and give back by raising awareness for mental health programs.
Advocacy, medical care, counseling, hospital/emergency room care/reform, pilot programs, PSA's, training, resources and whatever it takes to get people the things needed so they can live full, healthy and productive lives.

Society needs to accept mental illness as a medical illness and give it as much priority as any other health issue.
Those who suffer are not animals, test dummies or scape goats. We’re your sons, daughters, wives, husbands, loved ones,
friends and neighbors…..We are you.

It's possible. We simply need to make the effort.

Help us change things.

Thanks,
Anthony Albanese

The | Z U G U | Project
End the Stigma of Mental Illness