An Open Letter to Anyone Struggling with Their Mental Health
My mental health breakdown & recovery journey
I remember, back in 2015, when it feels too hard to do anything. Everything seemed too stressful at that time. Waking up, eating, working, exercising, doing dishes, or even going to bed… Anytime I had to expend any effort (physically or mentally), it was like a big wave of “please no, I don’t want to, I can’t”.
Depression. It’s a word we hear a lot nowadays. Too many people use this word to describe anything from a sad day to an overwhelming incapacity to live life. But as any person with depression knows, It’s much more than anyone word can describe.
I’ve been experiencing a lot of stress and pressure from my family and work. My business life was hectic at that time… I was depressed for months, maybe eight or nine months from when I really started to feel that something wasn’t OK. I was feeling so low that things I previously enjoyed no longer hold that same joy. I wondered how I ever enjoyed anything at all.
The effort to do anything was huge. The pressure to do the small things was even bigger. People have told me that I should probably talk to someone, but how do I put words on something so hard to even understand myself? how can I explain to someone that I want to live my life but also I don’t know how I can? How can I explain that this no longer seems like a choice?
For anyone that can relate to all or some of what I’ve written, I want to summarize the most important things that I’ve learned through my own journey that has had a long-lasting and positive impact on my mental health. Because I do know what depression really is, and I know what it means to have mental health issues, I want you to know that you are not alone.
Remind yourself that you are not alone
At some point in their lives, fully 21% of U.S adults have symptoms of mental illness (52.9 million people). This represents one-in-five Americans! Sometimes life hands out more pressure than a person can bear. Sometimes our coping skills are not up to the task of coping. And sometimes depression seems to descend out of the blue.
Whatever the circumstances may be, it is not something to be ashamed of. Yes, there might be some people in your life who can’t understand or who blame you, or who will tell you things that are unhelpful or insensitive. But there are people who will understand you and who will only want to help.
Pay attention to your physical health
I think that mental illness is not always in our heads. -If you are not feeling comfortable in your own skin if you are emotionally fragile if you have psychological problems- reach out to your medical doctor first. Thyroid problems, heart issues, even nutritional deficiencies can lead to mental illness. Pay attention to your physical health before you think you have a mental health issue. If you find out that you’re physically fine but you’re still deeply distressed, then you can talk to a mental health specialist.
Take better care of yourself
Pay attention to your physique even when (especially when) you don’t have the motivation for it. I used to say that I will take care of myself once I feel better. It really doesn’t work this way. You’ll start to feel better if you develop your self-care. Your brain needs good physical health if you are to recover.
Eat clean regularly. Decrease caffeine and sugar consumption gradually. If you’re not into cooking, buy take-out or stock up on frozen meals that just need a zap in the microwave. Get more hours of good-quality sleep (which also means to stay off screens before going to bed). Exercise consistently or just go for walks if you feel like it. Take a good shower and get dressed in clean clothes each day even when it seems like a useless effort. If you learn to treat yourself as if you are a person worth treating well, you will begin to believe it.
Take the medication as prescribed
I think it’s important to understand what your doctor thinks about the benefits as well as the side effects of your medicine. Don’t try to improvise. Take only the medications you’ve been given, at the prescribed dosage, at the right times. Pay attention if there are supplements or over-the-counter medications you should avoid. And, by all means, stay away from drugs and alcohol!
If taking your medication makes you feel uncomfortable in any way, tell your doctor. Don’t just quit. Your doctor can recommend a modification in dosage or in medicine.
Go to therapy
The best treatments for most psychological disorders are a combination of medications and talk therapy. A therapist will help you find out how to better help yourself. He will provide you with support and encouragement. But keep in mind that he is not a mind reader. A therapist will only know what you tell him to work with. So you have to dig in and share your feelings and thoughts. You need to think carefully about suggestions and ideas your therapist makes.
If you don’t like your therapy or don’t see any changes, talk about it. Don’t quit. Because these discussions may lead to the most important new elements about what’s really happening or how best to help.
Reach out to other people
Isolating (not spending time with or talking to others) might be tempting but it can’t help you. We really need each other, especially in such circumstances. Try to talk to your family or to a supportive friend. Join a support group or an online forum. Join a cause you care about or a charity. If you do things with other people for others you will improve your own self-esteem.
Finally, I hope you can get the best support (self-help and other help) to recover your mental health and regain your happiness much more quickly. I hope you can find a way out of this as I did. I know that it’s too hard to find hope with depression, so for now, I will hope for you until you get your sense of control back and find that hope again.
“You don’t have to struggle in silence” -Dr. Maurice Duffy.
All content in this article is for general information purposes only. It doesn’t replace a consultation with your own mental health professional.
References
- Studies conducted by Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): https://www.nami.org/mhstats
- Dr. Maurice Duffy
