Mental illness is something so common but rarely talked about.

I have always been interested in the way the mind works and found the study of psychology intriguing. The mind is an intricate and unpredictable machine that isn’t even fully understood yet by modern day science. So many questions are still unanswered.

I have just recently begun to dive into my own mind, and try to figure out what is going on in there. Since getting sober, my mind has been “acting out” if you will. I was diagnosed with depression 7 years ago, but I was drinking so heavily that there was no way I was going to figure it out or deal with it. Alcohol just fuels the depression. It did, however, numb the anxiety. Since I’ve stopped drinking, my anxiety has skyrocketed. (Disclaimer: Hopefully anyone reading this, trying to get sober, is not deterred by this statement. Everyone is different, and it definitely does not mean that you will have anxiety if you were to sober up. Nor does it mean you will become depressed.)

Alcohol tends to mask a lot of emotions, not allowing people to truly feel, deal or cope with anything in life.

This is a subject that has been hard for me to talk about, as this is something that I am currently struggling with. I honestly believed that sobriety was going to be the answer to my problems, but that’s not the case. Now I just don’t have a substance to drown out the thoughts that were always there. I think it’s hard for anyone to talk about, but why is that so?

Almost every single person deals with mental health issues in some way, but it’s not talked about.

I know what it’s like to feel like you have absolutely no one to talk to. You feel like you can’t go to certain people because they are going to judge you, and you don’t want to tell someone because you don’t want them to worry about you. You bottle it up and cry yourself to sleep every night and instantly regret waking up in the morning. I lived this life for years.

I’m not a doctor, and I don’t have any medical advice for you, but one thing I do know is that nothing good comes from keeping things inside. If you are dealing with a mental health issue, and you aren’t currently talking to someone about it, reach out. Reach out to someone. There are tons of resources and sliding scale therapists that you can talk to.

I know that reaching out can feel scary.

You might even feel ashamed, embarrassed, or feel like it’s not going to help, but choosing to talk to someone is the best thing you can do for yourself. Talking about it is going to bring you answers and clarity to your situation.

Therapy isn’t a cure, nor is it a magical happening that makes you feel better after one session. It is an ongoing and grueling process, and even finding the right therapist can be a lengthy and frustrating process. It’s okay, be patient.

If you’re still here, there’s still time to get better.

You are not alone. We are not alone. I know at times it can feel like this, but there is always someone out there who wants to help you, wants to be there for you and wants to love you. You don’t have to keep pretending you’re “fine” and lying to the people you love and care about. They can be your biggest supporters if you let them.

If you have any questions at all, or just want to talk, please reach out to me via the Contact Page. I love talking to new people and getting to know people. Please know you’re not alone. Dealing with mental health issues is really hard, but we don’t have to go through it by ourselves. You don’t have to talk about mental illness or what is troubling you if you don’t want to, but I’m here if you want to talk about ANYTHING.

If you are in a situation where you are having suicidal thoughts or tendencies, please call 1-800-273-8255.

You are beautiful, worthy and deserving of everything you want in life. Everything in life is temporary. If you are feeling extremely high, be humble, for what you’re feeling is temporary. Show gratitude for those moments and be present. If you are feeling extremely low, be patient, for what you are feeling is temporary. Things will always get better, and things will make sense eventually. Trust in the process. Trust in the growth.

“Emotional pain is not something that should be hidden away and never spoken about. There is truth in your pain, there is growth in your pain, but only if it’s brought out into the open first.”- Steve Aitchison

Thank you so much for existing and being here. I love you so much and I hope you’re doing well. Please subscribe to receive updates when a new blog is posted. I post 2-3 blogs a week focused on self-love, self-care, and self-development and would love to have you join me on my basic journey.

xoxo

P.S. If you like to read, and want a book that is going to help you feel better about yourself and your journey, check out “You Are A BadAss” By Jen Sincero. https://amzn.to/2okUY3G