I could go on and on with a list longer than Santa's naughty scroll with stigmas surrounding mental health. I was very fortunate enough to have parents who took me seriously when I told them I was not okay. But no one ever mentioned mental health as if it were some taboo dinner conversation starter. So remember kids:
Therapy is cool.
It is as simple as that. I have been attending therapy for almost 10 years now & it is one of the most helpful releases to have. I have kept that little fun fact hidden about myself from the world besides the ones who needed to know. "Why" you might ask. Well, stigma. Although, in my honest opinion, it could do everyone some good to see a therapist or counselor at some point in their life to sort things out! So, if you take anything away from this article, remember that therapy is cool.
Medication is cool, too.
Let me specify; taking medication prescribed to you by your doctor per their instruction is cool. Do I take medication for my mental health? Why yes, yes, I do. Honestly, medication has saved my life in many circumstances (no joke). I have met doctors that just push medication & treat you like an indestructible lab rat being tested on for every possible disorder in the DSM-5. Run away from those doctors as fast as possible. But, do keep in mind that medication was made to help. If you need that extra boost, talk to your doctor.
It is, in fact, okay not to be okay.
Now, I say this with a bit of grace. Being not okay, whatever that may look like for you, is fine in the sense that we all have good & bad days. If you notice that there are more frequent or severe bad days, bringing me to my next point, ask for help.
Talk to someone.
If you are anything like me, asking for help is the absolute last thing you may want to do. But realize that everyone needs help sometimes (some more than others). & THAT IS COMPLETELY OKAY. Reach out to anyone you feel safe with & create a safety plan if needed. We like safety plans!
Nope, you are not alone.
Cliché, right? It is very true though. Did you know that roughly 250 million people suffer from some sort of depression at least once in their lifetime currently? I do not state that fact to belittle the way you feel, but to express that more people have dealt with it than you may think.
Oh, and side note: If someone tries to say "You have such a great life, you have no reason to be sad. Get over it, this is just a phase", tell them to eat that pie from "The Help" (movie). You are entitled to feel the way you feel 110%.
You do not know anyone a reason.
A great therapist (mine) once told me that I do not owe anyone a reason. I never truly grasped that concept until recently. For example; you do not owe the toxic people in your life a reasoning as to why you are cutting them off. Just cut them off. I suppose it seemed to be a simple thing that I never paid any mind to until I noticed my anxiety would skyrocket when I felt obligated to supply an answer to why I felt a specific way.
Are these things simple? Yes, sure. But at the prime age of 14, these conversations weren't the ones my parents had thought they would be having with me. So, have the hard conversations. Be open to others & honest to yourself. Reach out for the resources because they are there for a reason.
