Mental Health Awareness Month

It’s okay not to be okay.

We live in a world that’s on fire, on the brink of WWIII, we’re still policing everyone’s bodies, hate crimes happen every day, living is expensive, and we’re still in a pandemic.

So yea, if you’re barely holding it together you’re not alone.

What I can do is offer you a little bit of advice.

It’s not going to get better overnight, it may night be better tomorrow or the next. What you have to do is wake up, take a deep breath, and remind yourself it’s going to get better.

Remember to take a day or two for self-care to recharge yourself. Mental health days work wonders for your brain and getting back on track. Spend the day napping, reading, watching mindless tv, drawing, whatever you can do to just relax. I know it sounds hard, trust me I know.

A couple of weeks ago — I took a couple of days for mental health. I am thankful enough to work a job that offers mental health days. I did no work, didn’t write posts, I just napped, read, did extra therapy sessions, and did yoga.

I wasn’t in a great space, and I had a breakdown. Did the self-care days cure what was going on? No. It did help. It helped me to get on a different path, understand a couple of the issues I was dealing with, and I was able to alter my therapy sessions. I’ve been struggling with my mental health my whole life. I have great moments, steady moments, but there are times when I spiral and meltdown.

In those moments — I feel like it’s never going to get better. I feel as though everyone is mad at me, and the world is coming down. I won’t reach out, even though I have a great support system of friends. I eventually pull myself out of that dark spot. I call my therapist, and we figure it out. Again, I’m lucky I can have a therapist not everyone has that option.

So why am I telling you this? Because no one has it together, no matter what you think. Those people have a support system, go to therapy, and are on medication. However, not everyone has access to therapy or medication, and several people don’t have friends or family to turn to.

That’s why I am an advocate for self-care. The days you take for yourself will help you pull yourself from a dark spot or prevent you from getting to that dark spot. You need to be there for yourself and support yourself. Your mental health starts with supporting yourself.

Also, remember it’s okay to reach out for help. It’s okay to call someone, it’s okay to take medication. Don’t let other people make you feel ashamed. Living is tough, and living in your own mind is even harder.

A couple of times this month — take the time to reach out to someone you haven’t talked to in a bit and say hello I’m thinking of you and hope you’re doing okay.

Lastly, remind yourself how important you are and do something for yourself.

Remember, the world is a better place with you in it.