Mental health—its importance is so under-talked about and so over-shamed. The truth is that your mental health is just as, if not more, important than your physical health.
A few months ago, I was in a really rough patch in my life. I refused to reach out for help until my one friend suggested I start seeing a therapist. I swallowed my pride, took her advice and went. After a few sessions of therapy, my therapist suggested I start taking medication to boost my mood, and I really had something against going on medication for whatever reason (looking back, it was because I had this stigma that seeking mental health help meant there was something wrong with me). A few sessions later, I once again swallowed my pride and went on medication that ended up truly helping my well-being.
Even though I was going to therapy and was on medication, I was still really embarrassed about the fact I needed help. I would tell my roommate I had class, not therapy. I told no one, not even my parents, that I was on medication because I felt like admitting these things would truly mean I’m broken—there’s something wrong with me.
As the months passed, I became more and more open to those close to me about seeing a therapist and taking medication because I started to realize that I wasn’t alone in what I was going through.
Mental health issues are so much more common than you think, and it is encouraged to seek help. I was too scared to seek help at first because I thought I’d be seen as less of a person, because I had this stigma about mental health. This stigma makes us as a society dance around this topic, and it can stop some from seeking help. Don’t let this stigma stop you from seeking help—it’s okay to ask for help.