Mental Health is a topic that is very important to me. My mental health struggle, specifically postpartum anxiety, was one of the driving forces that led me to starting this blog. I want to provide a space that opens up the dialogue about this topic. I want to aid in normalizing mental health so that people no longer cringe or feel ashamed at the mention of those two words. Mental Health.

So why is a stigma attached to this topic? I can’t give you a definite answer. I can, however, speculate from my own research, opinion, and feed back from my therapist as to why. My own personal conclusion is that to be labeled as having a mental health struggle is attached to the assumption that you are bat S&*T crazy. No one wants to be “crazy”. I also believe that it is difficult to admit that you are struggling with something that starts in your mind. To admit that goes back to that word: crazy. Because admitting that you need help, in the midst of a society that doesn’t understand, can make you feel crazy. It can also make you feel like you are failing, because you think you should just be able to tell yourself that XYZ isn’t real. That the fear isn’t real. That the anxiety isn’t real. That the struggle (in whatever form it takes for you) isn’t real. It can make you feel like you aren’t normal. Nobody wants to be labeled “not normal”. Although, what is normal anyway? Who sets the standard for what is considered normal?

Mental health aside, I’m definitely not normal on a societal standard. I don’t like reality TV. I sing in my house, so loudly, I know my neighbors have heard me on more than one occasion. And the Lord did not gift me with a set of pipes. I utter things to myself sarcastically in public (like when I trip over my own feet or finally find what I was looking for on the grocery aisle when it was right in front of me the whole time.) I still love Disney as an adult. I look like a dear-in-the-headlights if you catch me off guard. And I can be painfully shy (like stumble over words, do I even speak the English langue, type scenarios.) So, again, who sets the standard for normal? Spoiler alert: I don’t care. I’m happy doing me and the things that make me happy! Now back on topic.

Mental health has a wide range of things that fall into it. From anxiety, to depression, to split personalities, and illnesses that do require hospitalization. An important thing to mention here, is no matter where someone falls into this range, the struggle they are facing feels very real to their person even if an outside observer is able to see that it is not. It is important to remember this because saying things like, “Just don’t worry about it,” or, “let’s move on and we’ll worry about it later,” or, “Its just ____ , it’s no big deal,” doesn’t validate what the person is experiencing Rather, phrases like this are counterproductive and diminish what the person is feeling. These phrases, and the like, come from well meaning family and friends that are legitimately just trying to help. The reality of it, is that the most helpful thing here is to validate what the person is feeling and simply offer a form of support.

Let’s talk anxiety. A health concern that I believe is the most common mental struggle out there. My personality type is very in-tune with picking up on others emotions. I say this because with my natural tendencies + what I have learned on my own mental health journey, I can pick up on an anxiety struggle as easy as slicing into a delicious piece of cake. (Okay, maybe not the best analogy, but you get what I am trying to say.) What I have gathered, is that So. Many. People. Struggle. With. Anxiety.

Maybe you are like me, and have no idea anxiety was a struggle for you because of how you were raised (My story here.) Maybe you suspect that it is a struggle for you, but keep telling yourself that it’s not an issue, that everyone stresses, and all you have to do is XYZ and then everything will be fine. Maybe you know you have anxiety but don’t seek help because of the label. I’m here to tell you, that yes, everyone does stress from time to time, but not everyday. Not even every other day. You can lead a stress free life. You can live with a daily peace that you don’t even know exists because you are so used to the stress/anxiety. I promise you that a peaceful and stress free life exists and that it is worth every feeling of initial failure, embarrassment, nervousness, or whatever type of feeling you would possess upon tackling your struggle. (i.e. seeking the appropriate help.)

I’m harping on this one because anxiety is the struggle I understand. Because I believe it is the most common. Because I know several people who suffer from this and refuse to see it. That one makes me sad, because I know the freedom that comes from winning the anxiety battle. Why don’t they seek treatment? The specifics are different for everyone, but it always goes back to one of the main points above. (Not wanting to admit you have a problem. Not wanting a label with a negative societal connotation. Etc.)

There are several pieces of good news in the world of mental health. 1. The dialogue is beginning to open up and people are starting to talk about it more freely. 2. People are starting to educate themselves and understand more about this topic. (An important step in normalizing mental health from a societal standpoint.) 3. You are not your diagnosis. I’ll say it again, You. Are Not. Your Diagnosis. You are not anymore an anxiety-driven-stress-ball, multiple-personality, voice-hearing, (insert your struggle hear) than anyone else is a headache, cold, flu, etc. No matter what the diagnosis, you aren’t it. A sickness is a sickness, and it’s time we view it as such on a grand scale.

I encourage you to be brave. Be bold in your decision to seek the treatment you need to help you live your best life. Me, I’m a postpartum and gestational OCD/anxiety survivor. I say survivor because those two battles felt like they were going to kill me. I lived dark, hard days, and I am still here to talk about. I’m here as a living testament that you can get better. You can find freedom from the struggle. You can live your best life, your happiest life, your most joy-filled life, even after you’ve hit rock bottom and think you are lost forever. You’re not lost forever. You just need someone to take the blindfold off so that you can see the light and begin to make your way towards it. For me, what helped lift the blindfold was Zoloft. I also needed some extra support to get me to the light. That extra support was my therapist.

I am a better version of me on Zoloft and never plan to stop. I also plan to take an Advil if I get a headache. It’s the same thing. Both medicines help me be the best me. (No one is any good with a killer headache.) I wanted to mention this, because I’ve noticed that there can be a guilt associated with needing medicine for a mental struggle. I’ll never forget the look on a friend of mine’s face when they said, “I wish I could view it like that,” when talking about taking an antidepressant long term. Now, when I’m met with this reaction, I always ask, “If you were sick, would you take an antibiotic? If you had a headache would you take something for it?” Because whether you are struggling with a mental or physical illness, it’s all the same. It’s all just an illness. It’s not who you are. It’s not what you are. It’s a current struggle/illness and you can get better. You will get better if you meet it head on and seek the treatment you need.