I’ve seen mental health conditions affect several members of my family and friends. And well, me too. There were times when waking up in the morning to find purpose, while struggling with anxiety or depression, was all too hard. I remember wanting to miss school on those days. I remember staying in my room for weeks. And I remember feeling what I felt for months.
I’d overthink. The thoughts in my mind didn’t go away if I told them to. They’d linger and drag itself. They’d even form into an entirely different thought. However, there was one question I’d often think about that stayed the same, “When will I feel better?”
Feeling better grew gradually and I can’t remember that specific time when everything seemed… seamless. I just knew that I wasn’t where I used to be. The feelings of anxiety and depression used to feel heavy, until it didn’t anymore.
I believe mental illnesses have affected us all in some way. It could be ourselves too. Remembering and embracing who I was in my youth makes me feel grateful to be where and who I am today. I’m the happiest I’ve ever been, and I hope that is a feeling everyone experiences.
Today, I’m donating to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and it will be matched by two organizations! I hope you join me in donating by visiting this website. If you donate by December 31st, your donation will be matched by the Adobe Foundation. Why not double your impact? I highly recommend seeing if your employer will match your donation too!
NAMI explains, “A mental illness is a condition that affects a person’s thinking, feeling, behavior or mood. These conditions deeply impact day-to-day living and may also affect the ability to relate to others. If you have — or think you might have — a mental illness, the first thing you must know is that you are not alone. Mental health conditions are far more common than you think, mainly because people don’t like to, or are scared to, talk about them. However:
- 1 in 5 U.S. adults experience mental illness each year
- 1 in 20 U.S. adults experience serious mental illness each year
- 1 in 6 U.S. youth aged 6-17 experience a mental health disorder each year
- 50% of all lifetime mental illness begins by age 14, and 75% by age 24
A mental health condition isn’t the result of one event. Research suggests multiple, linking causes. Genetics, environment and lifestyle influence whether someone develops a mental health condition. A stressful job or home life makes some people more susceptible, as do traumatic life events. Biochemical processes and circuits and basic brain structure may play a role, too.
None of this means that you’re broken or that you, or your family, did something “wrong.” Mental illness is no one’s fault. And for many people, recovery — including meaningful roles in social life, school and work — is possible, especially when you start treatment early and play a strong role in your own recovery process.”
Let’s join together.
