I think it’s safe to say that it’s tough out there today. There is so much going on in the world — drugs, rape, murder, poverty, hunger, abuse, insane inflation, racism, sexism, the rest of the -isms, health concerns, money concerns, trying to find enough hours in the day to get everything done that needs to be done —vacuuming, dusting, dishes, lawncare, laundry, making dinner, that chair that squeaks when you sit in it, the baseboards need cleaning and when was the last time I washed my curtains? —while simultaneously trying to find time with the people you love, doing the things you love. It’s easy to get overwhelmed.
Compound that with potential lingering trauma, PTSD, anxiety, depression, or any other mental health issues, and life can get downright ugly.
It’s easy to say, “just breathe,” or “take some time for yourself,” or my personal favorites, “just relax,” and “what do you even have to be anxious about?”
Sometimes we need more help than what we can give ourselves or the people in our lives can give us.
I have struggled with anxiety for most of my life. For a long time, being anxious was just my default setting. Imagine setting a completely full glass of water on the edge of a counter so that half the glass is on the counter and half is off. Now start pounding on the counter. That’s pretty close to what I would feel like all the time.
So, what’s the answer? Well, honestly, I don’t know. But I do know what helped. Therapy. Seeking therapy enabled me to work through some of the sources of my anxiety and helped me find coping mechanisms to help me when things get out of control. I’ll always have anxiety and be anxious, but therapy helped me to find ways to manage and alleviate those feelings, so I’m not walking around like a big ball of tension ready to unravel at any moment. It helped slide that glass of water back from the edge of the counter.
Now, I know that I come at this from a position of privilege. Not everyone has easy access to mental health care. But I can’t stress this enough. If you feel overwhelmed and need an outlet, please find someone to talk to. I’ll have more on where to find help a little further down.
Seeking help from a mental health expert is something many people consider, especially when:
– facing a significant crisis
– dealing with an extended period of anxiety or depression
– coping with a major life transition
– dealing with complicated family dynamics
– grappling with problems in a relationship
– trying to manage addiction or substance abuse
– wanting to make changes for better mental and emotional health
But sometimes we all just need an unbiased person to talk to, and that’s perfectly OK too.
If you are able to seek therapy the traditional way, there are a lot of really excellent counselors available in our area.
If you don’t have insurance or cost is a concern, I recommend you check out http://www.pa.gov/guides/mental-health/#FindHelpandTreatment. They have resources available to help you find the help you need and deserve.
If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, please reach out for help.
Call 911: If someone is in immediate danger, call 911.
Call 988: Get connected to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by dialing 988.
Crisis Text Line: Get 24/7 help from the Crisis Text Line. Text PA to 741741 to start the conversation.
Crisis Hotline: 570-748-2262
Mental health crises can range from risk of suicide to rapid mood swings, abusive behavior, inability to perform daily tasks, paranoia, and/or loss of touch with reality.
You can also reach out to our local chapter of the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI), http://www.namincpa.org/.
While a strong support system of friends and family is very important, there are things that a professional can help you with that your loved ones might not be able to. Their training and experience help them know all the tricky ways that your mental illness can trip you up and how to overcome your hurdles.
And remember, there is absolutely no shame in reaching out for help. Whether it’s depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, ADHD, post-partum, or if you just feel like you need to be heard and have someone focus on you and your needs for a while — you deserve happiness, and your mental health matters. Seek help.
