John Green Discusses Dealing With Mental Illness, Intrusive Thoughts: ‘Sometimes You’re Driving the Bus and Sometimes You Aren’t’

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The Fault in Our Stars author John Green shared a personal essay on Motto this morning describing his experience with intrusive thoughts, which manifest as part of his OCD, depression, and anxiety. “The metaphors we most often employ when discussing disease — that it is an enemy to defeat, or a hurdle to jump and put behind us — don’t really apply to chronic illness,” Green says, detailing the difficult but ultimately hopeful experience of cycling through periods of illness and good health. He concludes, “You get better. You get worse. You get better again. Sometimes you’re driving the bus and sometimes you aren’t, but the bus rumbles along regardless.” Just drive your bus over to Motto and read it already.