Recently Netflix came out with a new show that is taking the world by storm. That show is 13 Reasons Why. It seems that you can’t log on to Facebook or Twitter without someone posting status after status about the show. Before I start explaining to you my experience watching this show I want to let you know that this post mentions suicide, rape, self harm, substance abuse, and mental illness. If these subjects are hard for you to handle please PROCEED WITH CAUTION.
13 Reasons Why is a phenomenal show. It touches on subjects that aren’t talked about on TV or in day to day conversations. Rape, Mental Illness, Self Harm, Substance Abuse, and Suicide to name a few. Though it was a great show and kept me on the edge of my seat wondering who each tape was about and what each person did, if you are a survivor of any of the previous mentioned addictions/illnesses/traumas I warn you not to be foolish and watch it alone like I did.
I thought I was strong, that I could handle the things that the show talked about, but being a survivor of self harm and multiple suicide attempts I was not prepared for the emotions I would feel and the tears I would cry.
As someone who still is fighting the battle against mental illness I warn you not to be foolish and watch it alone like I did. The show puts trigger warnings in the beginning of episodes featuring hard to watch scenes like rape and suicide attempts but the whole series can be a trigger. #Triggered, am I right? They can say one line and even though you are better, your past could relate to that one line, that one thing and it opens the door for those emotions, those feelings, those urges to come back into you life.
For every action. there is an equal and opposite reaction.
-Sir Isaac Newton
That above statement couldn’t be any truer. As seen in the show the actions each person made were deciding factors in someone ending their own life, but the choice to watch the show alone when you have survived something so traumatic can also have a negative reaction in your own life. Watching this show took me from the infirmary back to the front line on my war with mental illness. I didn’t know that would happen going in but it is the small things like that, that open doors for things to come back into our life. All it takes is one small crack for your house to become infested with ants.
In conclusion I think that 13 Reasons Why is a great show to raise awareness because mental health is not talked about often enough, but I do believe if you have suffered from any trauma/addiction/mental illness that the show touches on you should proceed with caution when you go to watch it.
Have you seen 13 Reasons Why yet? If so let me know in the comments what your thoughts were!
If you or someone you know is struggling please reach out. Suicide is no joke. Reach out to a peer or text HOME to 741741 to reach out to someone via Crisis Text Line.
