Melody Moezzi ’01 for HuffPo: ‘I am not Adam Lanza’

Author, speaker, attorney and UN Global expert Melody Moezzi ’01, who has bipolar disorder, speaks out on behalf of those stigmatized by mental illness.

“I’m not the mother of a mentally ill child. I’m not the child of a mentally ill parent. I’m not the wife of a mentally ill husband. I am, however, mentally ill. I have a story too. And it’s nothing like Adam Lanza’s.

“My story is neither violent nor sensational, but I think it’s worth telling. Not because it’s particularly unique or extraordinary, but because it isn’t. My story matches that of the vast majority of millions of Americans living with mental illness. My story is so typical and ordinary it shouldn’t need to be told. But because so few of us with mental illnesses can share our stories without fear of losing our jobs, our credibility and our support systems, I’ve chosen to share mine. (As a well-fed, self-employed writer with a ridiculously supportive family and just enough credibility not to care, I’ve got little to lose. Solely in this regard is my experience at all exceptional.)”

Read the full story…

Image: via On Being on Flickr.

Friendly URL: wesconnect.wesleyan.edu/news-20130124-melody-moezzi

Related links

• Melody Moezzi’s website
• Global Experts, Melody Moezzi
• Book by Moezzi ’01 a required reading at University of Dayton
• Wesleyan Writing, published works
• Wesleyan Magazine, just published
• On LinkedIn
• On YouTube
• On Flickr

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