While mental health matters, it can be really hard to be honest with oneself when it comes to it. Facing depression, anxiety, OCD, trauma, or other mental health challenges can feel daunting, embarrassing, and even shameful. Denial, projection, substance abuse, over working, or other defense mechanisms come to the rescue, but their aid only goes so far.

While one might want to push their mental health away from them, it’s always there. It shows up in every relationship one has, from romance to friendship to parenting to work life to name a few. Mental health matters because it is a major aspect of overall wellbeing.

If you recognize you’re holding your mental health as a secret, the place to start is to be honest with yourself. To say yes, I think I might be depressed. To say yes, I’m smoking too much pot to not deal with my break up. To say yes, I’m avoiding dating because I’m anxious. To say yes, that sexual assault in my teens is still effecting me. To say yes, I’m f*ing up my kids because I’m checked out. I know it’s hard to be honest with oneself but the flip side of not is detrimental to you and those you love.

Addressing one’s mental health takes courage. The outcome can be life changing for you and those you love. You deserve to feel better, and so do all the people that love you!

Help and Resources

In conclusion, your mental health matters. In fact, it matters a lot. Please feel free to reach out to me schedule here. Fore more information about depression and anxiety, head to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America. Check out the International OCD Foundation for information about Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Great trauma resources include the Trauma-Informed Care Implementation Resource Center and The Trauma Foundation.