Keep in Mind

Lead with empathy, everyone has a story.

If you meet me at one point or another, you will probably notice my wide smile, my laughter at my own jokes, my cheeks turning slightly red as I become enthusiastic about one topic or another, my brief wave at the end of the conversation. These are some of the things you might observe. But, like anyone else, my elevator pitch intro is only the tip of an iceberg. There is so much more underneath. Coping with an illness that is externally invisible — while internally it can feel insufferable — presents a particularly difficult challenge. While we observe World Mental Health Day this year, I am explaining something that is much more than a day for me and many others around the world.

When I experience feelings of depression…

Everything feels like an effort. Depression deflates what are normally common and everyday joyful moments. Feeling frozen, separate, and as if it would take an astronomical forklift to be pulled up out of the murky depths of lacking motivation, becomes the norm. A tricky component is that I want to isolate, which is the exact opposite of the remedy I need. Connecting with others and asking for help has been a lifesaver for me. (If you or someone you know is experiencing feelings of depression, see the resources section to seek assistance).

When I experience feelings of anxiety….

I find myself lost in a self-fulfilling prophecy. Avoiding certain scenarios perpetuates and feeds into feelings of anxiousness, leads to more isolation, which leads to further depression (see above). This creates a vicious cycle. I have found that catapulting myself into some experiences — even when they can feel like the last thing that I want to do — is usually the best antidote for my anxiety.

It is critical to note, there are disparities in access to mental health care. The theme of this year’s World Mental Health Day is mental health care for all: let’s make it a reality. This quote from the World Health Organization particularly stood out to me, “Despite the universal nature and the magnitude of mental health, the gap between demand for mental health services and supply remains substantial.”

My hope for the future: more conversation equals less stigma. Some companies now observe World Mental Health Day — and the simple existence of a global hashtag signifies a tide turning on the worldwide perception of mental health.

As complex beings, we may never know everything about the depth that runs below the surface for others, but we can be mindful about the simple fact that appearances are not always indicative of what resides beneath the things we see. Feeling alone can be poisonous, but it is also so prevalent — and will only be mitigated when tackled together.

#WorldMentalHealthDay

Resources:

• Local NYC resources: https://mentalhealthforall.nyc.gov
• NIMH (Mental Health Information): https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health
• NAMI (Blog posts): https://www.nami.org/Blogs/NAMI-Blog