But this time, I had weapons. One of them, maybe the most important, was this knowledge: I have been ill before, then well again. Wellness is possible.
- Therapy. Nothing is more helpful than not only being able to talk through my thoughts, but taking the time to identify why they’re as bad as they are.
- Rogers Behavioral Hospital. The treatment program I went through was one of the greatest things I ever have for my mental health.
- Knowing when I need “me time”. And taking it.
- The Living Room at Turning Point. I’ve only gone once, but it was extremely helpful to know I’m welcome back anytime I need to be listened to by someone who’s going through the exact same thing.
- Reading. I love self help books. And I love hearing stories of people in my shoes who have managed to make it.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Which I don’t practice as often as I should because it works.
- Writing. This blog has been an amazing outlet for me, and I’m proud I’ve been able to do something like this for myself.
- Being with my sister. I know that when I’m at my lowest, that girl can always always bring me further up.
How to live (forty pieces of advice I feel to be helpful but which I don’t always follow):
- If someone loves you, let them. Believe in that love. Live for them, even when you feel there is no point.
- You don’t need the world to understand you. It’s fine. Some people will never really understand things they haven’t experiences. Some will. Be grateful.
- If the sun is shining, and you can be outside, be outside.
- Just when you feel you have no time to relax, know that this is the moment you most need to make time to relax.
- Remember that there is nothing weird about you.
The main thing to remember is if you find something that works, STICK WITH IT. Sometimes that’s pills, sometimes it’s journaling, sometimes it’s exercise, etc. and whatever. When you get a cold, you take DayQuil because it makes you less miserable during the day. Once you work to figure out the root of the problem (going to the doctor to figure out it’s the flu = discovering why you are the way you are via therapy), your temporary solution (DayQuil or an antibiotic = coping skills, anti-depressants, exercises) makes the day go by just a little bit better because you’re not coughing up a lung (coughing = crying).