Mental health seems more prevalent in the media today than ever before. Arguments range from whether mass shooters are simply victims of untreated mental disorders who take out their anger in irrational and unforgivable ways to whether mental health even exists at all.
Whether you have been diagnosed or not, whether you have bipolar disorder, anxiety, depression, or any combination of the extensive list of mental health issues, I'm here to remind you of one specific thing: your mental state does not define who you are as a person. Being depressed doesn't make you a bad person. Having a panic disorder does not make you weird. Having anxiety does not mean you're anti-social, and PTSD does not make you weak. Your mental health is a part of you, but it doesn't have to define you unless you allow it to.
If you're just now exploring different methods to get out of your dark place when you're at your worst, here are some ideas that have worked for me personally, and others as well.
Find a safe place--a happy place. No matter what your safe place is, whether it be in a hammock with your favorite book, locked in your own bedroom, or any number of other spaces, find it and do not let it go. If you're feeling down, write out how your feeling. It can help you release all the tension and bad vibes you've been keeping inside.
Music can have an incredible healing ability. Find your calming music and listen to it on repeat. Let yourself adventure and explore. Opening your mind and body to new experiences can let out those inner demons. Tell people how you're feeling. You'll be shocked to discover how many of your loved ones have felt the same way at some point.
Most importantly, be nice to everyone. You never know what skeletons people could be hiding in their closets. Think about yourself and how many people around you may have no idea what's going on in your head. The people closest to you can be the most helpful toward your journey, if you'll only allow them to witness your vulnerability. You do not have to be strong all the time.
Everyone handles their mental health in different ways. Everybody figures out what works for them and what doesn't, even if it takes years to discover what they need. Some people need medication, some need therapy, some just need a quiet space to retreat to. No matter what method works for you, you are not defined by your mental state. Needing to hide under your covers for a day does not make you a hermit. Needing a hug doesn't make you needy. What you do to make yourself feel better when you're down is up to you, and does not dictate anything about yourself unless you allow it to.
