Since 1949, Mental Health America (MHA) and their affiliates across the country have led the observance of May is Mental Health Month by reaching millions of people through the media, local events and screenings. Mental Health Awareness month is all about spreading the word that mental health is something everyone should care about (MHA).
In 2019, MHA is exploring the topics of animal companionship (including pets and support animals), spirituality, humor, work-life balance, and recreation and social connections as ways to boost mental health and general wellness.
If you have been following along with the blog for awhile, you know that I have always struggled with my mental health. I have fallen into waves of depression and increasingly struggle with anxiety. Those struggles create an entirely new set of emotions that are also hard to carry.
Depression and anxiety are complex, confusing and different for every individual. None of us are above or below this crippling struggle.
For most of my life, I carried a great deal of guilt for struggling with mental illness. Why? Because my life is amazing. I am not lacking, needing or going without. Sometimes I feel like I have no right to be anxious, sad or exhausted.
But depression and anxiety don’t work that way. It’s hard for me to understand that and even harder for those on the “outside.” Like many diseases, mental illness is not always caused by something you did or didn’t do or something that happened to you. Depression or anxiety can weigh down anyone, at anytime, for any reason.
There is Nothing to be Embarrassed About
There is no reason to be ashamed or embarrassed of your struggles! We are all human, meaning we are ALL broken, and so much more like each other than we are different. Regardless of your background, race, ethnicity, income level, education, etc. you are a human being put on this earth by a powerful, all knowing God. I truly believe He gives us these mountains to show others they can be moved.
Whether you are in a season of highs or lows, or battling something inside that no one knows about. You are not alone. You are never alone. And you are so incredibly loved. My virtual door is ALWAYS open.
Photography: Sweet Lemon Drop Photo
