World Mental Health Day
Every year, October 10th rolls around and I try to write something that encompasses how it feels to live and function with a mental illness in order to dispel stigmas and help others gain a better understanding of how to check in with the people in their circle who may be struggling - including themselves. October 10th is World Mental Health Day and I recently had a short exchange with a new friend of mine that I’d like to share with you instead of what I normally do. She said to me during a conversation about my diagnosis - “I think we all have a little bit of darkness in us, even if we’re not officially diagnosed with anything,” and I completely agree.
This statement wasn’t to take away from what I was disclosing, but rather was about how many people can relate to the struggles I face and how important it is to regularly bring these struggles to the surface in order to normalize talking about them.
Something I think is important to recognize is that you don’t have to have a diagnosed mental illness for your mental health to be an area of concern. EVERYONE has a responsibility to tend to their mental health, in the same way you do physical health. In the sports/competitive realm, athletes of all levels have a tendency to put mental health on the back burner for the sake of performance. I’m guilty of this and I know others who’ve done the same, and many who continue to do so. There’s a belief that physical activity alone is the answer for keeping mental health issues at bay. Feeling a little sad? Go for a run. Frustrated or anxious? Lift some weights, you’ll feel better. While these things can help some people, they’re not the solution for all; especially not for individuals whose livelihoods surround physical activity. For athletes, neglecting mental health and focusing solely on physical performance = burnout, at the very least.
If an athlete rolls their ankle, even just slightly, do you think they’re going to wait until that ankle completely gives out before they start addressing the issue? Or are they going to start doing conditioning to strengthen that ankle and mobility work to regain range of motion?
If you notice you’re waking up with a knot in your chest that won’t go away, or that you’re finding less joy and excitement in things you know you love to do, don’t you think you should take the time to evaluate what’s causing you to feel that way?
These things, although small, can slowly grow and grow until they become something that takes you to a place you never imagined you’d be.
Now, I’m not writing this post to talk about methods for improving mental health or how to go about evaluating it either; my intention is only to bring awareness to the fact that YOU, reader, may not fully understand how important it is to spend some time checking in with yourself. Going back to what my friend said about us all having a little bit of darkness in us, no one will go through life completely untouched by some degree of mental health struggle. It’s the nature of living to experience the full range of human emotion - the good and the bad, the light and the dark. And it’s in the moments where your darkness is overtaking the light, that you HAVE to acknowledge it; to face it and to remember that you are not alone in your fight.
I think it’s also important to remember that although there are countless others who can relate to your struggle and are willing to help shine a light for you, YOU are the only one who can allow others into your fight.
You wouldn’t hesitate to ask for someone to bring you soup when you’re sick.
If you’re struggling, please, ask for the soup.
You don’t have to fight alone.
- Mel Rivera
