First off, let me remind you that mental illness is nothing to be ashamed of. The American Psychiatric Association defines mental illness as, "health conditions involving changes in thinking, emotion, behavior or a combination of the three."

You need to understand that this is a medical problem that you're facing, not a character flaw or lack of judgement. Whether you are struggling with depression, anxiety, an eating disorder or an addiction, you're going to get through it. I know you're worried that you're not doing so well; some days seem to only bring gloom.

I'm here to tell you that you're doing fine; you're gonna be just fine.

1. You woke up this morning.

You did it! You made it through another day! Despite the obstacles, the triggers, the naysayers, you made it another day. Don't take this for granted...don't pretend this isn't an accomplishment. You're winning this battle, one day at a time.

2. That thing, you didn't do it.

I don't need to be specific; you know that thing you usually would've done in that certain situation. Did you notice that you didn't do it? You didn't buy that bottle, you didn't swallow that pill, you didn't take a nap, you didn't flip the card or spin the wheel; whatever it is you didn't let it out.

3. You asked for help today.

Darling, I cannot say enough how big this is. No battle is won by a single person. You're strong, but even Generals need their armies.

4. You got just enough sleep.

This is huge. Whether you have the habit of sleeping too much, just laying there awake, or never wanting to move, you fought that. You got up out of bed. Right foot. Left foot. Moving.

5. You accepted you're ill.

Acceptance is the first step to recovery. Enough said.

6. You accepted that you're not a victim.

More importantly, you've reached acceptance that this is an illness not a consequence. There is nothing you did, not nothing you could have done to make this any different.

7. You helped someone else.

How impactful it is in your own recovery to aid someone else in theirs. The act of sharing and consciousness-raising is essential in advocating others who are struggling with any sort of mental illness.

8. You see yourself as a person, not an illness.

You are so much more than your illness. You wouldn't identify someone who is battling cancer by their illness. You are a dynamic person, you are multi-faceted. You are unique. You are more than an addiction, an eating-disorder, a diagnosis of anxiety or depression.

9. You achieved a spiritual goal.

You read your scripture. You meditated. You met a prayer rule. You did something positive. You participated in mindfulness. You sent good vibes. Whatever you did to heal your spirit, it was beneficial. The dynamic person that you are needs to be taken care of; mind, body, and soul.

10. You did something new without thinking about the past.

You took a risk. Regardless of how you would've acted in the past, you did it. Whether this "something new" was buying a different brand of crackers or going out of town, you did something new! I applaud you for it.

You're winning this battle; every step you make is a step toward recovery. Share your story, smile at others, make each day go by a little sweeter than the one before. If you need help, call a friend. If you need help, call me. I am proud of you.