"I am complete, but I am not finished"
"Talking about your mental health issues is not attention seeking. Admitting you are fighting an internal battle comes from a place of courage. There is still a negative stigma around mental health issues and too often people don't understand what it's like to battle them for years and years. If you have not suffered from mental health issues, you are lucky. Statistics say 1 out of 4 is or has suffered from these issues. I've suffered from generalized anxiety to severe depression and personality disorders over the past +10 years now and I can say it has not been an easy journey. It still isn't.
But what can make a difference while going through all that – is not having to be afraid of being judged, but instead being able to talk about it and be understood.
This is not my choosing. Just like I did not choose to get sick with flu, or break my ankle while playing basketball, and not be able to go to work because of that – I did not choose to get depressed to the point of not having any will or strength to get out of bed and do anything... and not be able to go to work because of that. The only difference is it's so easy to say "I can't come to work coz I have the flu / I broke my ankle", but it's so much more difficult – if not near impossible – to say "I can't come to work coz I'm having an anxiety attack" or "I'm so badly depressed I can't work". We are so accepting of any body part breaking down other than our brains. But it shouldn't be that way. And I hope raising awarness about these things would help make a change. Nobody should be afraid of telling someone about their mental health issues and getting the help they need.
We feel like we have to hide our darkest thoughts and feelings to shield others from them. But that shouldn't be the case. All the thoughts and feelings we experience are valid. We shouldn't hide it, belittle it or ignore it. Let's voice out our struggles, ask for help and support each other. Because we are all whole, no matter how broken we sometimes might feel.
"It's good to be reminded that you are not alone in this"
Getting help, going to therapy, suffering from these issues, taking medication for your condition... doesn't make you weak. None of those things make you weak, ever.
Don't think or let anyone convince you otherwise. It's what makes you stronger. I know this from experience.
Kuva: Tuomas Mäkelä
It's okay to not be okay and admit it. It doesn't make me or you any less in any way. It only makes us more human. It's good to be reminded that you are not alone in this... And that even the moon goes through different phases, but is still whole.
"I am complete, but I am not finished."
