Mental health. Those stigmatized words are spoken more today than ever. But why haven't we heard them before just recently?

The stigma of mental health has been present for centuries. I believe that the open discussion of mental health is very helpful in breaking the stigma. The more people talk about their mental health, the less scary it becomes to open up about it.

In the past, it was considered extremely strange for people to be open about mental health problems. In the 19th and 20th centuries, people afflicted with what we now know as anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia were put into institutions where they were essentially treated like prisoners. It's no wonder people did not want to speak out about their mental health.

When I was diagnosed with panic disorder (a type of anxiety), I was so scared that everyone would know just by looking at me. Just because you can't physically tell someone suffers from a mental illness doesn't mean that it does not exist.

My diagnosis was more of a relief than anything. While it brought on a bit of nervousness about others knowing, I understand that it is not a shameful thing to have a mental illness. I say it was a relief because through my diagnosis I realized that some things I thought were simply negative aspects of my personality are actually symptoms of my mental illness. I took the first step in talking to others about my mental health, and my life has improved immensely since I did so.

My first appointment with the doctor was the scariest, but at the same time, it was a relief to finally open up. I have enjoyed my life so much more since I have been on medication for my anxiety, and I would not have received the help I needed if I wouldn't have talked about it.

Today, we know more scientific ways to treat mental illness, and we realize that mental illness is not something someone can control or simply fix on their own. Just because we realize this doesn't mean we don't need to open the conversation about mental health and mental illness. There is nothing shameful about mental illness, but still, many people refrain from discussing their mental health.

An open dialogue is key to improving people's mental health. No one should have to suffer from something alone and without treatment. Mental health should take just as large of a priority as physical health.

In my experience, the benefits of talking about mental health are well worth the initial discomfort of starting the conversation. I encourage others to take that first step in talking to someone, as it could drastically improve your life.