You are not defined by your mental illness. Taking care of your mental health is an act of self love, and you need to come to the realization that you are worthy of happiness, and peace of mind.
Mental Health... What is it? Why does is sound so scary?
Mental Health refers to a person’s condition with regard to their psychological and emotional well-being. There are so many mental illness' out there that we truly are not educated enough about.
Whether its the more common anxiety or depression, or more advanced OCD, Bi-Polar Disorder, or Schizophrenia, we need to be further educated on these conditions and how to diagnose and treat them. Today, We are going to focus on the more common mental illnesses, anxiety and depression.
First Step (& quite possibly the scariest one)
Getting Help.
Have you ever been to a psychiatrist or therapist? Were you extremely intimidated to the point where you felt like you couldn't be completely honest? Well, I'm here to tell you that is a completely normal reaction. We, as individuals, have to realize that these medical professional's are here to do one thing: help us succeed regardless of what mental illness is trying to hold us down.
If you are currently struggling to find help or a good mental resource, please email us at efiinc@outlook.com or visit our website at www.efiinc.org to get a list of resources in your area.
Second Step: Attending the scheduled appointments.
This can also be a scary step. You may wake up the day of your appointment and think "I don't want to go" or "how could they possibly help me when they don't know me" and again, I can not express this enough, these are completely normal feelings and reactions to have. Attending these appointments is such a huge step and something to be proud of. It is not easy, but you are certainly strong enough to do it. We have to realize that these medical professionals are here to help us through these tough situations and diagnoses', and are put in place to provide long term treatment.
Third Step: Acceptance of Diagnoses.
So you were just diagnosed with depression or anxiety. Did you know that 65% of youth and teens suffer from anxiety and depression as well? At this point in a youths life, there are so many changes going on that can cause these symptoms to worsen. That is why it's so important to have a structure in place to manage these symptoms and help alleviate the stress of them.
Fourth Step: Living with Your Diagnoses.
Attending psychiatric and/or therapy appointments regularly is such an important upkeep in the realm of your mental health. Maybe you have been prescribed medication or given holistic approaches to manage your anxiety or depression. Use them. Utilize them. Put them into a routine.
The best way to keep your symptoms at ease is to find structure and normalcy that feels comfortable to you. Do not ever do anything you don't feel comfortable with. You will be surprised how easily symptoms can alleviate when you stay consistent and on routine.
One of the biggest takeaways from this blog, is for you to know that you are NOT alone and there IS a bright side to what you are going through. Whether you can see it now, or you see it in the future, it is there, and it is waiting on you to take that first step.
SAMHSA’s National Helpline is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish) for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders.  1-800-662-HELP (4357)