How Big a Problem is Mental Illness?

[@NateandNoahTryLife]

“There really is hope, even when your brain tells you there isn’t” I’ve always appreciated how John talks about mental illness... his videos were a big reason I sought help for what I was feeling. Vlogbrothers has always made me feel that I’m not alone, so thank you!

[@sophiaridder2252]

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[@rachelelizabeth6017]

Nate and Noah Try Life 💛💛💛

[@vampirica89]

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[@brianrubin2069]

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[@Shrooblord]

You are not alone. If the words of an internet stranger reaching out to you mean anything, accept my words of togetherness. We are all connected.

[@IguessImight]

Two Psychiatrists For Seven Million People For an entire country That number made me pause the video and stare into the unfathomable.

[@aidanb2403]

The way he said made it seem like he had read it too many times and was just still flabberghasted

[@carlaafonso6194]

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[@jbashore3468]

I’d add, In a country with a crippling, life altering disease like ebola! Experiencing your family wiped out would necessitate mental health care for sure.

[@mav8535]

They were on vacation there.

[@daphnie816]

That number made me grateful beyond words that I live in a country with mental health care because I probably wouldn't have lived past 20 if I hadn't had the help I got when I was first diagnosed with depression at 16, much less bipolar two years later.

[@walterarchibald1318]

"live with my thoughts rather than be controlled by them..." That's a totally new concept to me. Wish you might explain how the two feel different to you and maybe what that's called.

[@vlogbrothers]

Well, the conceit of self is that we choose our thoughts, right? I can choose to think about a polar bear, or to think about your comment, or to think about Disability Adjusted Life Years. But nobody actually chooses their thoughts all the time--sometimes you are forced to think thoughts you don't want to, etc. For people with obsessive thinking problems, like me, those unwanted/unchosen thoughts can overwhelm the self, and become literally the only thoughts you're able to think. So if someone with an obsessive thinking problem thinks, "I'm not sure if I locked the car," that thought can take over, and there's literally nothing you can do until/unless you go and check that you locked the car, and then you'll feel better for five seconds until you think, "Wait, did I actually lock the car that time?" And then you're forced to think that thought again, ad infinitum. Having my behavior and my sense of self totally overwhelmed by those obsessive thought spirals makes me feel as if I am being controlled by my thoughts--e.g., they are deciding what I do and think and am--which is equal parts terrifying and anguish-inducing. (This is what my most recent book is about.) I hope that is not too much of a wall of text! -John

[@DavidKirtley]

@@vlogbrothers Part of the problem is that everyone suffers the same issues to some degree. This morphs into "just get over it like I did" when that is precisely the crux of the problem because if you could just get over it, you wouldn't have the problem to begin with.

[@MarkThePage]

Yes, a whole lot of mental health problems boil down to the same few things going wrong--but to very different extents. This gives us a path to feeling empathy for just about anyone, but we cannot forget that we'll never fully understand another person's circumstances like they do.

[@walterarchibald1318]

Wow! Thank you! You have given me so much here that have, actually, never occured to me. Even in my overthinking, which could rival anyone's at certain times (not all the time, only with certain triggers). I need to consider "conceit of self" and the question of who chooses one's thoughts. Yes, I'll buy your book. And, i am so glad you found a solution for yourself and are willing to share this. Thnks, again.

[@mimsydreams]

I've recently started taking medication for depression/anxiety/fibromyalgia and probably for the first time in my life I don't feel controlled by my depression. Getting help with pain control helps a ton too. The antidepressants alone didn't seem to help with the pain, but works great when combined with Lyrica. I'm totally convinced that the reason I haven't drowned in my sorrows recently (and, believe me, there are a'plenty) is that the antidepressant helps me not stay in that sorrowful place. I can be sad, I can be devastated, but I have a better ability to pick myself back up after and I've never had that before. My thoughts don't control that part of my life anymore.

[@shreyanssethia7368]

This is probably the best vlog channel. Creates Awareness. Fun to watch. By people we love (John and Hank). And you feel like a part of it.

[@brianrubin2069]

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[@AcolytesOfHorror]

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[@metalheadjakob]

Id go as far as to say it is.

[@user-zd3eo2uy1d]

D on’t F orget T o B e A ware of that there really is hope even when your brain tells you there isn’t. ❤️

[@vlogbrothers]

A++ -John

[@ninamarie177]

Could we please get that printed on a t-Shirt? Or a bumper sticker, since you are now in the business of making those.

[@CarolMilters]

This. Thanks. ❤️

[@Shrooblord]

My favourite plot twist right now.

[@brianrubin2069]

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[@AzeemaC]

Yes, THANK YOU! I've been trying to create awareness about mental health in the school I teach in but also within the community (it's a low-income community in India) and it's so difficult to do this when the state government textbooks completely shove mental health and illness under the carpet. I've had to create my own study material and modules to teach my kids because this is an important topic for me. I guess I just needed to let out some of my frustrations with the lack of support for this cause, sorry. But kudos to you for voicing this. Thank you 💕

[@hanabarrett6046]

I'm sorry that you are not getting much support. Teaching kids about mental illness is so important. If more teachers were able to do this maybe less people would suffer for years before getting treatment or tell others that their symptoms aren't real. Thank you!

[@louloureads3953]

Thank you so much for doing the difficult and crucial work of talking about mental health in schools, especially when you are facing so many challenges in doing so. I had one teacher who talked about mental health at school, and it had a huge impact on my life and I still think about him years later. I am sure there are kids in your classes who will feel the same way.

[@vlogbrothers]

I'm very grateful to you for doing this. As you may already know, a huge study just completed in India lays bare how widespread serious mental illness is, and that suicide rates are much higher than was previously known: www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2018/09/25/651095638/suicide-by-women-is-a-major-public-health-concern-in-india So the work that you're doing is incredibly important, and I can only imagine how difficult it is. Thank you. -John

[@varunsharma1995]

People like you, making our country better one step at a time through your struggles, frustrations and fight. keep fighting

[@AcolytesOfHorror]

you are a hero

[@9_in_the_afternoon]

Completely unrelated sorry but I literally just this minute finished An Absolutely Remarkable Thing and OH MY GOD HANK IT'S SO GOOD

[@vlogbrothers]

I know right? -John

[@cbuck1669]

I've never loved and hated a character so much at the same time as April May

[@hollieprice4477]

Tori Lee I'm dying to read it 😭😭❤️

[@seabb]

I both love and hate the ending at the same time and I just can’t wait for the sequel!!

[@d84928]

Still waiting for my signed copy to arrive in Australia, I'm very very excited to read it, but it said it wouldn't arrive until 25th Oct. 😅😅 ⏱

[@vikkitoria97]

I'n studying nursing, and I recently learned that depression is now taking away from our health the way cigarettes used to. Even if we don't physically chain people in North America, our attitudes do. Also, John, your talking about OCD really helped me come to terms with my own. Wishing you well.

[@rachelelizabeth6017]

Victoria +++

[@InTenZeGamingHD]

Victoria do you use meds and do they help you?

[@fraidarahbaran6076]

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[@vikkitoria97]

I do! They have helped me with the anxiety, but do little for my OCD. I also feel super drowsy most of the time. I don't anticipate using them on the long-term; just long enough for me to get on my feet and learn to take a bit more control over my thoughts so I'm not so busy obsessively trying to control my environment.

[@jennifergoebel8333]

This past week I admitted to my primary care doctor that I have been struggling with depression and anxiety for probably the last decade and I start therapy at the end of the month. I’m anxious about where it’ll lead but hopeful for good outcomes.

[@r5lover14]

Good for you! Its probably gonna be weird/tough at first but things will improve :) best of luck to you!

[@aaronthompson1923]

Remember, the first therapist you see might not be the one for you. If you dont feel like you're benefiting, don't give up, there still might be someone out there who's a good match. Good luck my friend, I wish you the best on your quest to better health.

[@AndroidInHumansClothing]

happy to hear this, I'm wishing you the best! I know it can be scary talking about the things going on but your therapist is literally being payed to help you with that :)

[@thousanduniverses]

That's amazing 😊 I wish you all the best! 💜

[@brianrubin2069]

Congrats on finally getting some help! It's understandable to feel nervous about the idea of talking about something so personal to you, and you are brave for taking the first steps towards better mental health :)

[@Roll587]

Loved your segment on 60 Minutes, John. And your discussion of DALYs is extremely welcome by this public health professional. DFTBA.

[@fangirlfortheages5940]

WisMicYal11 I loved it too. I watched it with my parents and it prompted us to talk abt how much of an impact vlogbrothers and the greens in general have had on my life. I started watching vlogbrothers back in elementary school and I credit them at least partially with my love of learning

[@SwissAdelina]

What do you do in public health?

[@Roll587]

@@SwissAdelina I study how health behaviors and norms spread through face-to-face social networks!

[@rileythewizard]

having a sort of graphic understanding of the negative effects of mental illness feels validating.

[@sarahmichelle6205]

rileythewizard +

[@rachelelizabeth6017]

rileythewizard +++

[@raulie6335]

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[@fraidarahbaran6076]

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[@MireyaRivera]

"There really is hope, even when your brain tells you there isn't." This brought tears to my eyes because this is where I have recently returned. Again. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for taking time to talk about this topic again. I want to keep trying... even though many days I don't. Thank you.

[@Rhaifha]

Same, so often I don't see the light and just feel like I'm drowning in my depression. And your brain is just like; You'll never reach land, it's impossible. But I hope the both of us can keep swimming until we reach it!

[@MireyaRivera]

I heard someone say once, (and I'm paraphrasing) 'The thing that makes depression a particularly hard thing to overcome is it feels like logic and truth. Some mental illnesses feel like something is wrong, but depression feels like you finally got it right.' I wish the best for you, and anyone else who struggles.

[@dressdown00]

After years of fighting with depression and anxiety, I finally came forward to my parents two months ago, and began seeing a therapist, who in turn referred me to a psychiatrist, who I saw for the first time today. Change happens slowly, and I wasn’t sure if it would ever happen for me, but it did - and I’m going to keep getting better. Thanks for the reminder, John.

[@amberbydreamsart5467]

Like many other people in the comments section, you were one of the leading influences that led me to pursue antidepressants and therapy for my mental health, and without that, I fully believe I would not have graduated college or gotten the amazing job i have now. I have won back so much of my life thanks to antidepressants and I am so thankful that you have and continue to speak out for people pursuing mental health treatment

[@intrusiveshadows724]

This video shook me to my core. I'm still in and there is not a clear time out. This summer I'll be 30. I lost 6-10 years of my life (depends on the strictness of your categorizing) to depression, PTSD and dysphoria. I still have more than a year to wait until I can start chip my way, bit by bit, to breathing again. I'm shook because in may ways I'm not alive at all right now and gods know when I'll be. It's not that I haven't progressed at all. But all of my progress is against the strongest countercurrent of shit. Most of my days I just survive. Just waiting. And some days I'm so goddamn tired.

[@kadyb3641]

Hang in there. I'm just an Internet stranger, but I'm rooting for you :)

[@mariewikiwaka3851]

I needed this today. My depression has been getting more overwhelming over the last few weeks and I’ve been struggling to get out of bed despite having a full college course load. I think what a lot of people don’t understand about mental health, or at least depression because that’s all I have experience with, is that seeking help isn’t as easy as telling one person and immediately feeling better. Mental health changes daily. Sometimes I feel okay and can go about my day with little difficulty from my good friend Clinny D, but some days getting out of bed seems like climbing Mount Everest. So even if you do tell someone that you have a mental illness that knowledge is of little use unless you keep it current. If you told someone about your mental health condition last year then never brought it up again, it could look vastly different now than it did 365 days ago. The point is that you can’t just think that telling one person is going to fix everything because this is reality and things don’t always work out the way we want them to. What will help is finding a trusted person (friend, parent, counselor, etc) and keeping them updated on how you feel so that they can discuss it with you and help you identify when your illness is lying to you so that you can negate those lies and establish truth. And if you made it to the end of this mess, DFTBA

[@kadyb3641]

I totally relate. it's a process and it sucks. Hope you have support and things get easier soon! And thanks for reminding me of THWoD; I've been meaning to check it out :)

[@Healermain15]

Yes. One of the biggest problems with depression and other big mental health problems is that it turns your brain against you. If your body is sick, your brain knows it and your body is automatically fighting it. If your brain is sick, you're trying to fight your own brain with itself. While still using that sick brain to navigate life. And failing that usually means your mental state gets worse, which makes it harder to find and combat all the bad thoughts and feelings)

[@luciabee]

I am going through the exact same thing. Thanks for your comment. I hope you feel better soon.

[@MrUrbnGamr]

‘Tis hard not to be a pessimist nowadays but I suppose that’s the last time you should be.

[@DistortedMatt]

Thank you John! I think it is dumb that the US doesn't treat mental illness similar to cancer or a broken bone. Whether the issue is with your body, arm or brain, treatment is needed so people will be productive/better off members of society.

[@Maxwellhyde14]

Thank you for making this. My sister is struggling with anxiety. It’s stopped her from attending high school regularly and she’s missed days and sometimes weeks at a time. Sometimes, I as a person who loves her feel helpless. I feel like don’t how to best support and help her and she won’t communicate her needs with me. Today was a particularly hard day. This brought me some unexpected comfort. Thank you. I hope the quality of her day to day life will improve and I can offer her any support and care she needs until and when we get there.

[@andym28]

Maxwell Hyde I have it pretty bad. Hard to go to work or on transport. What helps is just going anything in my power I can to help like diet and exercise plus councilling. Also being a bit crazy like dancing in a crowded place helps haha.

[@thousanduniverses]

I'm glad she has you looking out for her 😊 My sister went through the same, so I can totally relate how helpless you must be feeling. I did too. I wish you both all the best and I hope she'll feel better soon 💜

[@HiddenDragon555]

My father has a saying he likes that goes "There are no [mentally healthy] people, only the undiagnosed". (He says it in Russian where it sounds snappier.) The point being that everyone has problems and says that they don't, and don't point out you have problems or people will treat you worse or throw you into a loony bin. What I wanted to say is that it's interesting how two intelligent people can look at the same conversation and come out with radically different conclusions.

[@HumanTypewriter]

Well that's a dangerous way of viewing mental health.

[@HiddenDragon555]

I'm not arguing it isn't. I'm not sure where in the family it originated from, but I ended up growing up with the idea that mental issues should be discussed in private with trusted individuals while hiding it from the public world. I've heard of households where these problems aren't discussed period, which seams wrong and unnatural to me.

[@alyaaaa6559]

Just thought about this yesterday and saw this comment today, what are the odds! Your father put this thought very nicely. What if mentally stable/healthy people are rare and the rest are mentally ill with different severity?

[@MsMelissaRo]

As a Russian I'm wondering whether I've heard this saying in my mother tongue ever before, but I can't think of a good translation :)

[@stvltiloqvent]

I agree with your father! The older I get (and I'm not even that grown up) the more I realise a lot of people are actually dysfunctional one way or another. Including those who don't believe in mental health care. They have the worse self awareness when it comes to their mental health and cognitive behavioural issues

[@lorenabpv]

I was commenting/reading comments re: mental health over at the art assignment and it's crazy (pun unintented, oh well) how terrifying * that is when you out different people's stories together. i guess i see mine as something I've always had (which is true, I can't recall not being an anxious mess) so I don't often reflect on how much energy it robs me out of or how much it manifests in other health issues. mental illness sucks a lot. *that said, i'm very lucky not to be in a place where people are tied to their beds. but still.

[@Musicgirl42798]

I really needed this video today. The past few weeks I have been having the worst flare-up I've had of my mental illness in the past 5 years and have been having a hard time making it to some of my university classes. While I know missing these classes due to my mental health is as valid as missing them due to physical health, it can be hard not to beat myself up for it, as though I could just will myself to be well enough to go to class. When I'm not in classes, I teach comprehensive health education, including content about mental health; I know both first hand and on paper the importance of proper mental health. That said, when I'm personally struggling with my own mental health, it is easy to negate the effects that mental illness has on myself and fall victim to the stigma associated. Seeing this today helped me not to feel so alone, and realize that the burden I am feeling is not something I am making up for myself. Thank you for that.

[@untappedinkwell]

As a reminder to anyone in comments who needs it: Take your meds! Do what you need to do. Grab a glass of water, have a snack, do your homework, do something fun. Take care of yourselves, and be kind. DFTBA!

[@lorenabpv]

i remember your livestream reminders during p4a! also thanks for this one, i needed some water

[@untappedinkwell]

Awww good! Always happy to help! I can't believe it's almost P4A time again!

[@vadimflaks7795]

Here's a cold and calculated look at this (which is the only point of view that matters to the people who decide how many resources are dedicated to what): the healthier your population, the more productive it is, the more taxes can be collected from their work, and good mental health is necessary for the kind of work that creates the most wealth. Thus it may be a good idea even for the completely heartless in power to invest in the mental health of the rest, cause, you know, CASH MONEY.

[@fraidarahbaran6076]

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[@StarbucksMary]

Yeah, that's what I've been thinking also. And it's not a cold look, because it's true and that's exactly how governments work.

[@vadimflaks7795]

Well, the way they SHOULD work, anyway. Sierra Leone is actually a textbook case of that model not working for a long while because it was simpler and quicker for people with guns to turn a sizeable chunk of their own population into slaves and force them to work and die in the diamond mines. Who cares about building infrastructure and improving population wellness when you can pick up massive wealth right of the ground and sell it to the rich Europeans and Americans? The curse of resources.

[@ryanlu8747]

That was very cash money of you

[@Morringlin]

My professor noticed me choking on my drink and I had to explain that this youtuber just said "also dying is not the only health problem, though it is a big one."

[@AmeliaBell28]

This video, along with your 60 Minutes segment (which FRENCH THE LLAMA HOW COOL), was just what I needed this week (and most weeks). I’ve been struggling a lot lately with the seemingly irreconcilable concept that my mental illness, though serious, will not prevent me from living a long and happy life. I’m caught between people either telling me that my mental illness is not that big of a deal or that my mental illness is this enormous barrier to living my best life and that unless I can “push through it” I’m not going to be able to follow my passion or find love or anything. This was a really good reminder that mental illness is a serious problem, but it’s not an unmanageable one.

[@louloureads3953]

Hi, I want to tell you that my brother spent a lot of his twenties struggling with anxiety and loneliness, and working in a job he hated. BUT he's now in a band that's doing pretty well, studying at university, and he just bought a flat with a woman he's been with for about three years. He still experiences anxiety but he is so happy and it is a complete joy to those who know him. I hope that you find the help you need to manage your condition and enjoy your life to the full, just as he is doing.

[@kieleyevatt2232]

We had a freewrite in English class today and I talked about how despite the huge movements going on today, there are still major issues that it seems no one is discussing, and this was among those which I mentioned. People talk of systemic racism (which is a huge problem I might add) but no one talks about how difficult it is for someone with PTSD like me to explain how I'm feeling when all around me on a daily basis I hear the word "trigger" used as a joke. When people take and twist real psychological terms into funny personality quirks or jokes, it slowly crushes the spirits of those who truly suffer from these things and makes us unsure whether to even ask for help, not to mention the lack of adequate treatment for those who do muster up that courage. For now, always keep fighting my friends

[@JokesInBase13]

I lived with untreated mental illness for the first 32 years of my life. I literally can't remember a time when I didn't have symptoms. In the last year I have started treating it with a combination of therapy and medication and it is amazing what a difference it has made in my life. It was like trying to read something very important by moonlight for years and years and wondering why I was having so much more trouble than everyone around me, but with treatment, I realized I was wearing sunglasses the whole time. It wasn't a drastic change, and I still sometimes end up with the sunglasses back on for no good reason, but now I know they are there, and now I know how to take them off if I need to. I am still me, just sunglasses optional.

[@eustacia03]

I work in the mental health system in the US and while we don't have literal chains and shackles, similarly inhumane treatment for the mentally ill is unnervingly common in the US. Particularly in the "troubled teen" industry, interventions such as sitting on patients until they go limp, locking them in tiny isolated rooms and denying access to food and hygiene products are all in use, usually in programs that are "cash pay only". Not accepting health insurance means less oversight and desperate rich parents don't ask a lot of questions leading to mentally ill teens being further traumatized by their treatment. In addition, in Massachusetts there is a "school" that operates WITHIN the system that delivers repeated electric shocks to "condition" bad behaviors out of psychologically troubled children. When I say this I don't mean the do ECT, I mean they deliberately cause pain to train kids like you would train a dog.

[@randomtinypotatocried]

And here I thought that one hospital I went to as a teenager where I was locked up for three weeks in very small area with poor air circulation was bad.

[@OctagonalGolbat]

This really shook me. I suddenly realised I've lost more days to depression and anxiety than to any other, more temporary illness, despite the fact that my mental illness didn't appear until my early teens. The times I've been mad at myself for not being able to do things ("Just snap out of it!") suddenly seems like a far less reasonable critique. I... I should probably get some help.

[@Healermain15]

Getting help is usually a good idea when you're dealing with a mental illness. It doesn't make it easy, but it can make things a lot more manageble!

[@louloureads3953]

This video is excellent, but it made me so sad. I live somewhere with (on a global scale) comparatively good and accessible mental health care, but my dad won't access it at all despite being very unwell. I know he could live a much healthier and more fulfilling life if he would admit that he is not well, but he never has and I don't think he ever will - he just thinks everyone who is worried about him is in a conspiracy together. If you are reading this comment and your loved ones are worried about your health - physical or mental - please take their concerns into consideration, and seek help if at all possible.

[@vlogbrothers]

I'm really sorry to hear that, Hannah, and thank you for sharing your experience. As you know all too well, one of the biggest challenges with mental health care in much of the world is that people are afraid to accept it, or struggle to understand when they need it. -John

[@ohrwein7154]

But what if I know that I need help but my loved one don't understand/ accept? Because my dad pays my healthcare bill I can't go to a psychologist without his signature and I will not get it because of the reasons listed in 1:28.. btw..being 19 and still not being able to decide on your on when to get mental help is ridiculous

[@allywhitney141]

@@ohrwein7154 Can you talk to your doctor and get them on your side? Their job is literally to be your advocate in healthcare, and your dad may be more accepting of you seeing a psychologist if comes from your physician.

[@ohrwein7154]

@@allywhitney141 well, the thing is that I can only talk to a physiologist, even just the first evaluation stuff, only with my dad's signature ( because of insurance)..the other thing is that my dad is a doctor himself but in a different department so he does not think highly of physiologist. "They make the patient ill" and bullcrap like that

[@42believer]

When struggling with depression, I realized it was so easy to give into my sadness. It's not that I could just "decide to be happy", but I was choosing a life that made it easier to give into the depression. It's different now. I want to be happy. I don't know what it is or looks like or how to achieve it, but the difference is *wanting* that happiness for yourself and realizing that that's what most other people want too, even if they don't know it. Hang in there everyone

[@kmgx291]

It is overwhelming to me to think about the fact that if I had been born in a different country, I would most likely be hospitalized for my mental illnesses. Or that if I were to seek treatment, it could be extremely difficult or even IMPOSSIBLE to do so. This might have been the push I needed to seek therapy, which is something I've been putting off 'for later,' Sadly, many people don't have the option to go NOW, let alone later. Thanks for this video. It was eye opening.

[@danielisozaki8522]

We still need people to understand that your mind is as important as your body. We want to treat only the things that are leaking right now, not a hidden one, and that's sad.

[@thousanduniverses]

Daniel Isozaki Well said 🙌🏼

[@Ripplez13]

As a health student I am well acquainted with DALYs, and I want to thank you for bringing it up in such a visible way, because it is such an important way of looking at health problems.

[@JC-nk7nb]

I was diagnosed with OCD in April but have been suffering from the condition for years. The illness has often been soul crushing. I want to thank you John. The first time I had a really bad OCD experience (back in 2013-2014), your videos provided a great deal of comfort. Hank’s too. I didn’t know exactly what I was going through at the time but the suffering was real and nerdfighteria was a place of comfort. I’ve gotten better at managing the disease, but there are low points. These videos continue to help whenever I’m feeling down. Don’t stop being awesome 😎

[@94blackbelt]

I've been seeing a LPC-MH for about six months now for a myriad of disorders and illnesses. Anxiety, depression, PTSD, OCD, repressed grief, abandonment issues.... It took me a LONG time to finally reach out for help, and I can't say any single source was the final push, but Vlogbrothers' thoughtful and respectful discussion of it (especially John's Turtles All the Way Down and his very frank discussion of his own struggles) were certainly a huge help. For that, I'm grateful to John, Hank, and all of Nerdfighteria. And on the off chance there's someone who also thinks they need help but are too afraid, or too stubborn, to reach out, like I was...making that first call or email to a counselor, therapist, or psychiatrist is one of the most difficult things you will ever do. Don't beat yourself up if it takes a few tries, or more than a few. Or if the first person you see doesn't "click" with you. Or the second. It can take a while to find someone with whom you really connect and feel comfortable, and it's terrifying. But it's so, so worth it. Please, don't buy into the (thankfully increasingly challenged) cultural idea that you're abnormal, deformed, or weak. Everyone struggles with some form of mental illness at some point. Many may need treatment. And being able to admit you need guidance and advice is one of the most mature decisions you can ever make. It's a sign of strength and maturity, not a weakness, and you ought to be extraordinarily proud of yourself.

[@racheltan3938]

As John said in another one of his videos, “I’ve learned that there is hope and that when I feel like there isn’t hope my brain is lying to me.” I love this quote and I often say it to encourage myself when I’m having a hard day.

[@grandmamosays71]

Thank you so much for letting people with mental illnesses know they are not alone and encouraging them to get help. My life would have been so much better if I'd been treated early.

[@annaphifer8556]

Hey John. Over my New Years long weekend of 2017-2018 I sat down and read TATWD. Non stop. I finished it that weekend. When I was done, I put the book down and started sobbing. Reading how Aza’s mentality effected the people around her made me realize how mine affects the people I love. My New Years resolution was to get into therapy. I’m no where near close to “normal”. But because of your book, for the first time in 13 years, I don’t feel dangerous to myself anymore. Thank you for creating characters that I can relate to, videos to watch, and a community that makes it so I don’t feel so gut wrenchingly lonley. I’m on the road to recovery with my mental illness. That’s in very large part, thanks to you.

[@Randomthingsandchick]

I started a mental health awareness club at my school to bring awareness to these issues and help other students realize that they aren't alone. Mental health is such a stigmatized and under-talked about topic at many schools. I think it's crucial that mindfulness starts in adolescents and children so that they will be better prepared on how to take care of their mental health in the future. Thank you, John, for starting conversations about mental health and being such an inspirational figure for many people like myself

[@tubularmonkeymaniac]

"Live with my thoughts, rather than be controlled by them" That is so succinct and accurate! I feel the same way after being medicated.

[@joleenick]

Thank you for highlighting just how much illnesses impact the daily life of people! A lot of the time everyone focuses on illness related deaths. When I got diagnosed with POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome), the doctors said , ‘well you’re not going to die’. But that’s not the point at all I’ve spent a couple years being debilitated and not functional because of the lack of awareness around this illness! Interestingly POTS is also very commonly misdiagnosed as anxiety because of the presentation of symptoms.

[@emu2013]

This is an important one for me. I’ve lost years trying to improve my mental health, and while I’m improving, it’s hard when I look at the opportunities lost, money spent, and relationships damaged. Depression has made a huge impact on my quality of life.

[@moiradarling97]

Looking at life daily is exactly how I get through my mental illnesses. I often tell people who ask how to get through a rough time to tell themselves “It’ll be better tomorrow.” If you keep telling yourself this over and over again eventually it’ll be true. It seems simple and like a useless statement but it’s helped me immensely, especially since many of my panic attacks happen at night. Very good video. Hope you’re doing well.

[@Tom-dk5ez]

I wasn’t expecting that “there is hope even when your brain tells you there isn’t”. Now I just need to figure out how to trust anyone

[@PoweroftheP00f]

On a day like today, where I was on the phone for several hours being denied and passed around by 3 different health insurance firms-all somehow associated with my plan- where I've been told, yet again, my insurance will not cover sufficient mental health treatment, I thank you for making this video, and bringing light to this issue, John.

[@ren3989]

I really needed to hear this today. Thank you John, you and everything you do means more to me than I can possibly describe. I also have obsessive compulsive disorder, and everything you have achieved and done to help the world gives me so much hope for my own future and the courage to continue on through every day despite the illness I live with. You have put words to these experiences I have suffered and articulated them in a way that cultivates understanding and empathy for those who have OCD while also shedding light on the true weight of the situation for people living with mental illnesses in our world today. I use the 100 days video to explain OCD to people I share my struggles with and it has helped them understand my disorder in ways they never could have before. You have contributed so many important things to the mental health community, and have personally inspired me and given me hope that I can do great things and help others in spite of my illness, and I cannot thank you enough for that. You are an amazing person John, and I wish you success in all your endeavors and good health for all the days ahead of you.

[@switchingtime]

I just got out of a meeting with my new psychiatrist and saw this video. Thank you for speaking about these sorts of topics, everyone can and should be able to get help for mental health problems when they need that help.

[@redsnake69]

Thank you John. Thank you so much. You made realize how important is to fight this problem, how real it is, that I am not alone, that we must to look for answers and we must to share them. Thank you.

[@jadeembley9333]

I’m terrified every day for small reasons, such as getting a job, moving away, etc. But to know that someone as amazing as you, John, can suffer and still live a good life, it’s gives me hope.

[@fuzzz94]

As a young clinical social worker, I appreciate you using your influence to spread education about mental health!

[@odiseoish]

THANK YOU! You have no idea but you have brought tears to my eyes. I have been battling with drug abuse for a couple of years now and have finally come to the realisation that the reason I became an addict was a mental health problem that hadn’t been diagnosed until just a few months ago at a ripe age of 35. If my condition would have been caught much sooner I probably wouldn’t be in the situation I’m in, or at least I’d be able to control it better. The fact is that we are used to from an early age to go to doctors for physical health, we go to dentists and opticians and take care of our bodies. But we are not used to being taken to psychologists or other mental health practitioners in order to make sure our mind is as healthy, unless there’s a clear issue. And even then those issues are seen in early age as something you should be able to overcome on your own because “it’s all in our head”. I think there needs to be a more scientific and stigma-free conversation about mental health in children and teens than it exists at the moment as tackling them early, like any other disease, would prevent them from becoming much bigger than they ought to be. Thank you again for bringing the plight of so many of us to the table.

[@ollieolliewollie]

THANK YOU Mental illness is so important and yet its constantly being blown off and ignored. I'm glad to see people like you educating others on the topic. It deserves to be talked about

[@keelyriggs1097]

When you talk about Mental Health, or really when anyone does, it reminds me that I need to become outside of myself and help those suffering. Tomorrow I’m gonna greet someone looking at their shoes, and sit with someone at lunch who is sitting alone, because I was once that person, and it brought so much joy to me when someone talked to me, even when it was seemingly meaningless.

[@marianaavalosarce5393]

Hey John, I happen to have the same disorder as you. It's so difficult to change. But what you say with "living with your thoughts and not controled by them" is very inspiring. Thanks.

[@KFaria27]

Thanks for this! I am living things right now. In the middle of a bipolar episode, I had to quit my job six weeks ago. My everyday has been anything but normal. But I am making it thanks to a great doctor and an amazing support system.

[@kbaccari88]

For all your Printz awards and movies, your openness with your mental health struggles has saved more people. It's really important work. My daughter and I did family DBT together. Listening to Hank and John on the way got us through that time. DBT saved our family and your pod was so important to that. I'm always grateful

[@starj.9130]

I had a really bad anxiety attack 2 days ago I ended up in the ER because of it... and I’ve m felt really scared to talk to others about getting help even though I feel like I’m losing the motivation to do everything I love day by day... This video probably just gave me the courage I needed to try and open up about it... even if only a little. Thank you John

[@apekop34]

Is there any video where john explains more about his situation and mental health?

[@vlogbrothers]

This one, What OCD is like (for me): kzbin.info/www/bejne/oH-ohq1vq5qFj9E And this one, On Mental Illness: kzbin.info/www/bejne/kJDcZXZ3eLBgb8k

[@steveplummer5779]

The 60 minutes interview was very touching.

[@apekop34]

@@vlogbrothers thank you John!

[@akshatachonkar3257]

This is so inspiring! I'm studying to be a clinical psychologist and these facts are so true. The number 1 cause of mental health related deaths and impairments is a complete lack of awareness. Thank you for your effort in making this a less taboo-ed topic to speak about.

[@runemist4011]

Thank you for this. I’ve had a migraine for a week, and it’s affecting my mental health very badly. I have a lot of mental health issues, but still find the majority of my life happy, and fulfilling... even if I have to do most, if not all, of my treatment on my own.

[@XxBlondeGothxX]

I would just like to say that the Green Brothers have definitely been such a giant force in me getting treatment that I need in a sense that it has kept me from feeling like it is a secret that must been bore by me and only me and instead has made me realize that it is a health issue that can be treated and that should be talked about. Due to the fact that i have an AMAZING support system and meds that help me work as a productive citizen I have gone from not being able to leave my bed for weeks on end to having a full time job, a dog, and the ability to take classes at my university in order to further my education in my life. Not everyone can do that and I completely understand because I definitely couldn't until very recently. So thank you.

[@KTGetc]

Wow, this came along at an incredibly good time for me, which is to say it's come along at the absolute worst time of my life. I've known I need help for a while now, but getting help is hard when you're being crushed under the weight of it, and the two people I've tried to reach out to have been stunningly and incredibly unhelpful. Thanks, John - you may have saved my life.

[@tjtjeerdsma9938]

This channel has helped me with my own mental health struggles for many years. Especially with a video called Perspective that I still watch every so often.

[@electriccandles]

Honestly needed this today, I literally just spoke to my doctor about getting help because I've been ignoring how sad I am for far too long.

[@BecodasPalavras]

Incredible information. I am brazilian and have depression and anxiety. One of the big problems in Brazil is because is still stigma over this. I told some friends onve I have depression and was feeling well, they disappear. Two years ago, I was so desesperate with the situation that I wrote in my social media what I was been through and beg for help. Got lots of positive returns, but also some people not only disappear, that I found out later that they were talking to others saying that who has depression never should talk about this (and other things). People still believe mental health is something to be hidden and is afraid of ask for help because some people don't want to help because they don't believe this is a disease. It is sad and needs to be change. Thanks for bring ths topic. I am still on medication and getting increase duo some breakdowns in the last few weeks. But fighting against to defeat this problem.

[@irri3191]

In so many ways, your our nations brothers. Thou ,I was raised without any brothers. You men, in my heart , are the fill. Thank you both. Much love.

[@johnlaurel8937]

As someone who suffers from OCD aswell... your example allows me to be stronger happier and hopefull. Thx john

[@spaghettikat1964]

I'm losing time right now :/ I dont know how to quiet my brain lately. Thanks for this video John. I always look for your videos when I'm feeling particularly mentally ill. You help me stay hopeful.

[@jordand8148]

I saw your story on 60 Minutes this week John. It was informative and inspirational. Thank you for everything you do. You're a great reminder that bad times are just times that are bad.

[@sarty]

Without medication and therapy and people like you who share your story, I don't know where I would be. I missed quite a bit of work due to OCD/Anxiety and nearly lost my job because of it. We do have a long way to go, but I am glad to see that it is being looked at and taken more seriously. Thank you for being one of the brave who shares their story so that more people can understand, John.

[@steveplummer5779]

"What was it like for you to read that?" "It did help me understand John better...." "What did you learn about him?" "The extent to which, sometimes, he is at the mercy of his own mind." - from the 60 minutes interview... this made me cry. Thank you both for continuing to advocate for mental illness and awareness.

[@ElizabethTheJedi]

You couldn't have said this better, John. This is one of the million reasons why we are all proud to be Nerdfighters. Both you and Hank understand what we're going through when no one else does, and we're forever grateful for that. Thank you for believing in us and staying by our side every step of the way. We love you, guys. DFTBA. ❤️

[@unlovebreather]

I've literally seen many therapists and try to talk to my doctor about my depression and I still feel hopeless. People say talking to someone is the first step and it really is the first step because finding help that works for you is so hard. Let alone finding people that believe you and don't belittle your feelings. This made me hopeful.

[@MrJero85]

I went to the hospital last night for suicidal thoughts due to a long term depression. I needed to hear this. Thank you.

[@betweentwohorizons]

Thank you John for constantly being a spokesperson and advocate for mental health. You are a treasure for the world and I will always look up to you for being an awesome human being.

[@CarolMilters]

John and Hank you guys are an inspiration to get me going with my mental illnesses, my weirdness and my creations in this extraordinary, ordinary life. I am grateful beyond words. This is needed , demanded, urged. A broken brain hurts as much as a broken arm, and there should be hope and empathy for us all. Thanks. Thanks. Thanks. DFTA.

[@abbywarren6444]

Your 60 minutes segment was very interesting. I like the fact that you said you write your books for your teenage self and I think that really helps them relate to the younger audience. Thank you so much for what you do John.

[@Siriuslyyy]

John when you said you take a pill daily I had to pause because I take medicine daily for my mental health and I'd like to think that I'm comfortable talking about to anyone who wants to, but in reality I still hide it whenever I can. So hearing you say that made me feel such Joy... That a successful and kind and smart person like you takes a pill _just like me_ for his mental health! Sorry. I didn't mean to rejoice in the face of your pain. But it makes me feel that much less lonely. And much more hopeful. Thank you ❤

[@emynemy5821]

Thank you for making this video!! I'm finishing my undergraduate psychology degree in the US and am thinking about where to go in my career, and I've been questioning more and more about where my studies will be most useful and create the most impact. This is honestly what I needed to hear to motivate myself to research more about communities who need mental health help the most. So thank you

[@philiptouw3623]

I kind of want this video to be shown in health classes all over. While those classes talk about things such as not doing drugs and eating healthy and such, they never really talked about things like this. Awesome video, john!

[@KatieeeBug03]

Mental health is still such a mystery to me. I was diagnosed with depression a month ago. I grew up with a severely depressed parent. who, in my mind, has a “reason” to be depressed. I didn’t have a tragic life event. I didn’t even know I had depression. I hope that the conversation and normalization of mental well-being continues to grow because with out it I would be a month further along in a very bad journey.

[@Sandy-dh1zx]

With the ongoing conversation of mental health, and the controversy right now on YouRube specifically, this video discusses the subject with no controversy or speculation. Thank you for articulating your thoughts so well and giving hope to those who may feel that they are in a seemingly hopeless time.

[@rprunty088]

What you said about living with your thoughts instead of being controlled by them is spot on. I struggled for years before I got help for depression and anxiety and it's amazing how much better I can function now. I'm grateful to be in a position to have cheap healthcare and to live in a country that at least somewhat takes mental health seriously. I feel so bad for people in countries where it's demonized. :(

[@emma-fy1xi]

thank you so much for this video, john. mental illness needs to be talked about more and it’s very validating to hear about it when mental illness is very isolating

[@sourcedrop7624]

I think the leading mental health problem is people thinking they ARE their thoughts. You are no more your thoughts than you are your body. Your body is a PART of you - a tool you use to interact with the world. So are your thoughts. You are the CONSCIOUSNESS behind all that.

[@timewavesurfer4979]

Wrong, you are your consciousness, your thoughts, and your body. All of it.

[@sourcedrop7624]

So if you have an identical twin, or a clone, are they you? No. Identical body. Identical mind (more so in the clone than the twin). But ENTIRELY DIFFERENT CONSCIOUSNESS. Your consciousness is the core of who you are. Without it you cannot exist, but your body and mind can exist with a different consciousness.

[@natrodgers9267]

I don’t know how they do it but these guys always Time their videos to the times I need it most. Thank you.

[@shondralyon-brown1603]

Thank you, John, for being so open with your personal struggles and also when discussing the wider issues of mental health. ❤

[@chloem2483]

Thank you for making this video. From someone who has struggled, from someone who has tried, from someone who is still going today: thank you for this. You are an amazing person, and you touch so many lives, including mine. Your book "Turtles All The Way Down" was the first book I ever cried at because of how relatable and accurate Aza's mental disorder is. Please never stop doing what you're doing. #BeHereTomorrow

[@drwindsurf]

Brilliant John. Thank you so much :) “There really is hope, even when your brain tells you there isn’t”

[@madalen532]

Thank you John. Endless thank yous. On the days when my thoughts try their best to control me, and I am very tired, I always remember that there is at least one person out there who understands, and that person is one of my biggest role models and my favorite author, and brought me and my best friend together, bonding over some of the first chapter books in high school that I could concentrate on after not reading for fun since elementary school. Thank you. Thank you for sharing information to educate us, and thank you for existing.

[@CinnamonToast]

i often think of my mental illness like metaphorical chains, but to think that there are people who are actually, literally, chained down breaks my heart. That could have been me if I hadn't been lucky enough to be born in the place I am. I can't imagine how awful it must be for those people, it's completely unfathomable.

[@jamesschempp8640]

Thanks John. You’re ability to make human suffering, especially mental illness, relatable and real has helped so many, including myself

[@kendallpaige4848]

I'm a psych student working SO hard to get into grad school so I can be a clinician. Since I was in grade school my dream has always been to listen to people and help them. I'm a bit worried because some of my professors are proud of being "hard" instead of good at their jobs. But I was once told the key to education is being stubborn! Watching this makes me so excited to be a psychologist some day ♡

[@jimhayes4043]

Thank you. I have major angst, and take meds. “Better living through chemistry.” I appreciate your honesty.

[@theresaulrich8459]

John Green is one of the pivotal inspirations for me finding the courage to be honest about my mental health/illness experience. Hank, too, but I was more exposed to John first.

[@Nunavuter1]

At 3:06 I not only felt a wave of relief, I felt less alone and also understood why John isn't as "productive" as he was years ago. Major depression/Anxiety disorder tends to just get worse as the years go by. It can rob you of the ability to pay the rent. It indirectly robs you of friends, it can end marriages. It can result in your family and friends insulting you to your face because you keep "failing" even though you keep trying to go out the front door and be who you are inside. You know that sensation if you were almost hit by a car? Imagine that being a constant thing.

[@Makalasbeautybar]

I appreciate the simplicity of this video and the shortness. Sweet and to the point. ❤️

[@makaylacorrell9760]

I thought this was going to be another BetterHelp video, so tired of seeing that everywhere. Relieved to see it was just an honest thoughtful message. Keep up the Great work John!