Mental hospital, mental breakdown, mental illness, group therapy; now the hard part is out of the way. Let the stigma persist if it must, but I will tell my story-a story a nation needs to hear about what is going on right under our noses.

"Mental illness is a physical illness also. It's your brain! Without a brain, you cease to exist. It is the most crucial organ in the body. It may get sick too. It may become overpowered by external and internal forces as any other organ does. It hurts inside also." - Defeating My Demons

I suffered a dramatic mental breakdown in 2019, and Defeating My Demons, My Mental Breakdown, Through Darkness to the Light, details it all. The lead up to my breakdown and contributing factors such as family relations, motherhood, chronic illness, depression, anxiety, and society's pressures. The epic meltdown that led to my husband Jason taking me for in-patient mental healthcare for the sake of my safety. The horrifying and traumatizing in-patient care while on my 72-hour hold-the lies and abuses from the staff at Dillard Manor Mental Hospital. The aftermath of that trauma and pulling through it in group therapy with women, I will cherish for a lifetime, no matter the distance! Finally, the growth I have felt over the past two years.

America's mental healthcare system is chaos, and we need to get a grip before it takes more lives. Mental hospitals are not up to par. While in mental hospital captivity, you are helpless. The patient's basic needs and health care are unattended. Staff is apathetic, resources limited, recycling humans back onto the street, and inhumane treatment.

I did not go outside for 72-hours! Walking out upon release was almost blinding.

Dillard Manor Mental Hospital was a sad and dark place. That is why I must tell my truth; as painful as it is to share, it needs to start somewhere. We need to expose the system to figure out how to rebuild it.

"This is the story you will write!" Jason said to me as he held the door open, the entrance to freedom from Dillard Manor.

"And it will take those courageous enough to share their stories with the world, like Manda Jones, so that others may see how broken the system actually is." - K.N. Lucas, Defeating My Demons

Defeating My Demons is a call to action.

Manda and Jason run a free blog to give those who want to tell their story a platform. There is no excuse for people to go unheard or to remain voiceless. You have the power to change hearts with your experiences, wisdom, and raw truths. What's your story? Email askmandafriends@gmail.com or visit https: //mandafriends.com/free-consultation to tell yours!

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for reading our story!

Manda Jones & Jason Bjorn