In Honor of World Mental Health Day

I knew there was a problem. But I couldn't quite figure out what it was. I had a full-time job that I liked, and was happily married with lots of friends, family, and support. I loved my apartment and went on all sorts of little adventures. Every weekend was packed with events, trips, and cute coffee shops. I felt ok, sometimes even more than ok. But other times I felt like I was barely holding it together. It wasn't until I had to cancel a vacation at the very last minute because I physically could not move my body on to jet bridge to board a plane that I finally admitted, "I need help.” And at the time, I didn’t even know what that meant. I just knew that how I had been living was not sustainable. My life was starting to feel as if it was unraveling. In private, I cried daily. I ruminated about death, pain, and suffering. I struggled to focus on anything that wasn’t a catastrophe. Not like “I missed a deadline” or “I embarrassed myself on the subway” kind of catastrophe. Like researching how I would survive if there was a nuclear winter (it's not good). Or what should I do if a plane crashes into my work place (nothing). Or what were the chances of a tsunami reaching me several hours away from the coast (negligible). It seems so strange to look back and know that I felt like I was thriving, when objectively, I was not well. After leaving the airport, I searched online for therapists who took my insurance and scheduled an appointment with the first person who picked up the phone. I didn’t even care what they specialized in, honestly. I remember feeling so embarrassed. Why would a counselor need to reach out for help? Shouldn’t I have it more together? But my mental health had reached a tipping point and I could no longer pretend I was fine. Turns out, it was one of the best things I’ve ever done for myself. Ten years later I still lean on the things I learned during that time. Starting therapy can be a difficult decision. Even working in the field, it was tough for me. Before reaching out, you might hesitate due to stigma or uncertainty about the process. You may be thinking: “Am I broken? Why does it hurt so badly to exist? Is everyone else faking it, like I do?” The National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI), reports that 1 in 5 adults in the U.S. experience difficulties with their mental health each year. A difficulty that is prevalent across race, gender, sexuality, and geographic region (Mental Health By the Numbers, NAMI, 2023). Globally, just over 60% of people report feeling stressed to the point where it has an impact on their daily life (Ipsos, 2024). If you are experiencing distress, and dream of a better life, please know you are not alone. It is never too late to ask for help. This World Mental Health Day, I’m hopeful that you are able to connect with someone that understand and accepts you. Whether that’s a therapist, a good friend, or even a pet. If you’re curious about therapy, reach out and schedule a consultation and we can tackle this together. Ipsos. (2024, October 7). Ipsos world mental health day report. Ipsos. https://www.ipsos.com/en/ipsos-world-mental-health-day-report Mental Health By the Numbers, NAMI. (2023, April 27). Nami.Org. https://www.nami.org/mental-health-by-the-numbers/