What would you tell your younger self about Mental Health?
So I asked the question - 'What would you like to tell your younger self about mental health?' I think it is really nice to get a broad range of experiences because we are all unique! Here are twelve of my favourites:
“Talk about it with your friends! They won’t think any less of you, and chances are they can already tell something is up and they just don’t know how to talk about it first.”
“It’s okay to be vulnerable, to tell your story and let it all out (even if that means crying, it’s okay to cry too). You shouldn’t have to and don’t have to do this alone. You are so strong, but you don’t have to sacrifice your own mental health to help those around you. It’s going to take time and effort, but seeing a therapist and learning new ways to cope is going to improve things, I promise.”
“Don’t forget to think about and be thankful for everything that you have. Stay positive.. talk about how you’re feeling. Love yourself no matter what.”
“You won’t always feel as bad as you do at this moment. You are not alone, you are not worthless, you are stronger than you know. Ask for help, don’t be afraid. Meds can help you feel better and help you to cope, but counselling will give u the tools to fight this in the future.”
“I would start off by saying that, even though it feels like you’re alone, you’re not. Seek help, you can’t trust everyone, but you can trust your parents. Take your meds and go to therapy. It’s okay not to be okay ❤️”
“Don’t stay silent. No one has the right to judge or invalidate you, let go of those that do. It takes strength to fight the demons inside you but you’ve got this and don’t let anyone convince you otherwise. Tell your story and break the stigma”
“Don’t be afraid to t a l k about it. Life is full of wonderful and awful things, and working through those things is life. Going to therapy isn’t as scary as you think. Don’t be scared to say no. Listen to your mind and body, it is probably telling you something important. And always remember to stay true to you. ❤”
“Educate yourself with strategies and stories of others who have gone through the same and similar. You’re not going “mad”, your circumstances have acted as the catalyst for something that has (very likely) always been there - a chemical imbalance. Don’t retreat into your own head and don’t think you have to go through this alone. You WILL get through it.”
“You have a storm coming , it’s going to start in your chest and work it’s way around your whole body ... you will feel like it’s the end of the world , you will be desperate to not feel such things ever again, put I promise you this isn’t the end of you. Your world will come to end many times and start again in the morning , I need you to be brave. I need you to ride the storm. Because I few years from now you will be sitting in your house with a daughter and a husband completely content , still battling some demons but you’ll be seasoned enough to hush them. You are strong, you are so strong. I’m so proud of you. I love you.”
“You’re not a burden to those around you. Seek help. You deserve it.”
“It’s an important part of you but it doesn’t define you. You are more than your mental health once you realise this so will everyone else.”
“Be kind to yourself and understand that you’re young and still learning. Things do get better, you aren’t any of the awful things you tell yourself.
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