May is definitely a busy month. It’s also Mental Health Awareness Month. Mental health is important and it seems as though many people take it for granted. Perhaps there may be a feeling of being ashamed or embarrassed. Maybe a fear of being called “crazy”, hearing someone say, “Oh your mind bad”, or simply the thought of having a problem when you always “have it together”.
When hardships come into your life whether it’s a job loss, death, or a traumatic experience, what do you do? Do you pray? Do you cry? Maybe you do both simultaneously. Do you find someone trustworthy to discuss the problem? Well as for me, I did those exact things.
Sometimes that isn’t enough. Everyone is different. I’m not saying God doesn’t answer prayer because I know He does. I also know He has people here on earth who’ve been trained in certain areas to assist you. They are called counselors, psychologists, therapists, etc.
Therapy
Another thing that I did was get therapy. It was a whole year after my mom passed away that I decided to take things a step further. I just didn’t feel right. I couldn’t put my finger on it. After encouragement from my boyfriend (now husband) I contacted the benefits department at my job and signed up to speak to a licensed therapist. I went for a few sessions. Very cost-effective. My co-pay was $7 for approximately 1 hour with the therapist. I think it was helpful. I will tell you it was not like what you see on tv. There was no fancy leather couch to lay on and share my feelings. It might be because my co-pay was $7. I don’t know. The aesthetics were disappointing, but that’s not what I came for. I can always appreciate a clean setting wherever I go.
I wasn’t prescribed any medications, nor did I want any. We just chatted. I was diagnosed with clinical depression. I was actually shocked because I felt that I was functional and doing all the normal young adult things: able to get out of bed, working, going out here and there.
Hands down I knew I was depressed soon after my mother passed. I tried to do things on my own, and I was praying. Thank God I’m not where I used to be. In conclusion, you can see it was a combination of things that helped me. If you are feeling depressed it doesn’t hurt to seek professional help. Do you remember that saying from back in the day, “A mind is a terrible thing to waste”? It’s still true. Take care of yourself: mind, body, and soul.
Common Mental Health Disorders:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
- Suicide
If you don’t feel like your normal self, please talk to someone whether that’s a friend or a counselor. If you are employed try your Employee Assistance Program. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
For more info on mental health check out https://www.nami.org/