Mental health issues have always had a certain stigma around them. They have always been a quiet conversation, something said in whispers, something that we don't really share. And with that, the process of seeking and maintaining better mental health has become a stigmatized subject as well. Being on medication, seeking counseling or going to therapy for the improvement of mental health is not a common topic of conversation, and it's not something that very many people talk about freely.
And that's not a good thing. Mental health has never drawn the "glamour" and attention that other illnesses have—that visible illnesses have. While days of awareness and other acts have attempted to remedy this, there is still a huge disparity in how we talk about treatment for these disorders. It's easy to say that you're taking medication to get over pink eye, but antidepressants and therapy aren't talked about in the same way—as a routine medical treatment to help combat something not functioning properly in the body.
I started going to my college's counselor during a stressful time in my life, because I needed help with what I was going through in day to day life. I have an adviser to help me balance my school priorities, a coach and weightlifting trainer to work on my athletic pursuits, and now I have a person who helps me with my mental health. As someone who has lived most of my life with at least mild depression, and more recently, anxiety, I probably should have started going to counseling years ago.
I now know a lot of people who go to therapy or are on medications to help with anxiety, depression, mood-stabilization or other issues. I know about them, because I started talking about my own experiences. While it was initially hard to mention that I go to counseling in casual conversation, it became easier the more I talked about it and the more people responded with their own experiences. I could probably list at least 10 people off the top of my head that I know who have sought help for their mental health.
And the more I talked about it, the more I wished it was easier to talk about. Some days I walk out of the counseling office and I feel so incredible—I've figured out one of my unhealthy thinking patterns, or I've set a new goal to work on—and I wish everyone could feel as positive as I do in that moment. Many colleges have free counseling services that can be greatly beneficial and should be taken advantage of. Seeking assistance for working on your mental health is not bad: It is not something to hide or to be ashamed of or insecure about. It is empowering to know that you are working toward a better, happier version of yourself, so if you're thinking of taking that step, I hope you find it as rewarding as I have.
