Hmmm. I wonder though whether continuing to maintain, and perpetuate the "lie" that you don't need help and that you are fine, is not helpful to the cause of trying to build a world where people can be treated well for being open about mental health struggles?

I've always been very open about my mental health. Including at work. My company allows for people to take mental health days as sick days, and I've taken advantage of it multiple times. And encouraged others to do so. I've also been open about past struggles I've had with anxiety and an eating disorder. None of this has disadvantaged me at work, whereas bottling it all in and not taking the sick days would have.

What I've noticed is that my being open about my mental health struggles tends to make people feel safer to express their own mental health conditions and vulnerabilities if they want.

I also have seen mental health professionals before. One was useful, one less so.

While it's absolutely true (and awful) that some people who disclose their mental health struggles to therapists get put on medication without consent or institutionalized, I think it's dangerous to tell people in an article "it's better to never tell anyone what's wrong because if you do you'll be locked up and your life will be ruined". That belief is what prevents people from seeking lifesaving care sometimes.

I think there's a balance to be found between acknowledging the barriers to people's self disclosure and asking for help, and trying to build a world where people feel safe to ask for help when they need it.

There are many organisations genuinely devoted to trying to make a world safer for mentally ill and neurodivergent people. But they can't help people who won't seek help.

Your experience is valid and your choices are right for you, but I worry some people who do need help from professionals will avoid seeking it because you tell them that all psychiatry is designed to ruin their life and imprison them...