I frequently talk about my struggles with mental health and depression across most of the social media platforms I use. Mental health awareness is very important to me and I am a very strong advocate for talking about it. There's too much stigma surrounding it and we need to break that stigma. We need to make sure more people know it's ok to talk about it. We don't talk about it enough!
I've recently had several people reaching out to me regarding my sharing on this topic. I've been accused of trying to manipulate my daughters because I speak out about my struggles and told to "talk to a therapist." I've had others reach out because they are worried...to those people - I'm ok. I have two amazing reasons to keep going; Rachel and Abby.
I'm not trying to manipulate anyone. I'm trying to help people who are afraid to reach out for help.
It's OK to talk about your mental health struggles!
It's OK to say you aren't Ok and that you need help!
If me talking about my own struggles helps someone else reach out for help then I've done something good. I'm not ashamed to talk about it. No one should be ashamed to talk about it. Both of my daughters know that I struggle; they know I'm passionate about helping others suffering in silence. They also know that while I struggle, I would never actually go through with it because I want to be here for them and to never leave them alone. I am a voice in the darkness and I am not alone. Neither are you!
We talk about cancer in all of it's various forms, we talk about ADHD and autism, we talk about dementia and Alzheimer's. We talk about all kinds of things regarding our health. We need to talk about our mental health more because it's a very VITAL part of life. Please don't be afraid to talk about it.
Your struggles with mental health doesn't mean you are crazy. It doesn't mean that you are not good enough or that there's something wrong with you. It simply means that you need help and are suffering. Please, please, please reach out for help! There is help out there!
Trigger warning for the below information
Mental health awareness is something that has been very close to my heart for decades. My uncle on my mom's side died by jumping in front of a car... I remember when I was really young my mother took an overdose of Valium...as a teenager my older sister tried to overdose on Tylenol... I've had several family members attempt in different ways.
My older sister had a lot of mental health issues and trauma that she self-medicated with drugs and alcohol. She passed away from an overdose in February of 2019. I strongly believe that if she'd been able to get help she'd still be here. So I speak out. Frequently and loudly.
It's OK to say you aren't OK and that you need help. It's OK to admit that you are struggling. Admitting this does NOT make you weak...it makes you human. We all struggle sometimes and there's nothing wrong with admitting that.
I will always advocate for more awareness and open discussions regarding mental health. It is something I am very passionate about. If you are struggling, please know that you are not alone. I'm adding resources below for anyone who needs them:
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