This is what I’ve learned on my journey that I want others to know:
“I have learned through my journey with depression and anxiety that you can’t fix everything or on your own. I had a dark time in my life when my spouse lost his job, and I was working three small jobs. I was trying to take care of everything myself. I finally broke telling myself I was bad mother, wife, and person. At one point I was done, and I reached out to two close friends. Through God, church family, and counselling I got help and begin to heal. I know the signs now if those thoughts start to creep back in my mind I know where my strength lies. If you are going through a dark time in your life don’t be afraid to reach out for help.“
On my hardest day, I wish I could have told myself this:
“That there will be more hard days, but it doesn’t define the rest of the days that will be joyful, life changing, spiritual, and full of feel good moments. Remember to take one day at a time and if that feels like too much, then take one minute or one second at a time. Take a deep breath (inhale) and slowly let it go (exhale), do it 5 times while repeating in your head that, “you are good enough”, “this feeling is temporary”, and “I will have more good days than bad”. I had to remind myself of that just a few moments ago. I went to a private spot and gave myself 5 minutes to cry if needed and do those exact things I have mentioned. I was able to remember my worth and it might seem like the hardest day is just learning a new job. Today, that is my “hard” and others it is deeper than that. But everyday is a new one, it is a gift and try to embrace it as much as you can.“
This is how someone showed me kindness
“When my mental health starts to decline, one of the first things to fall to the wayside is the cleanliness of my house. I struggle to ask for help in that situation, but my partner knows and will tidy up without me having to ask. I always appreciate this so much. It makes my hard days a little bit easier.“
When I’m having a hard time, this is what I do:
“Find little things that bring me joy and do them repeatedly. It can be simple – watching videos of red pandas in the snow – or intense – like a really difficult spin class (maybe don’t do that repeatedly). I just need a minute to get out of my head and just be.“