8 Words of Wisdom I Would Share with My Younger Self

1. It isn’t your fault:

No matter what I try to tell myself, having a mental illness is not my fault. It is nobody’s fault. It just happened. Especially with anxiety, it is easy to ruminate; it is easy to think of every possible reason why this happened. And during that rumination, you look for someone to blame. But that doesn’t need to be the case. There doesn’t have to be someone to blame. It doesn’t have to be someone’s fault.

2. You are not alone:

It’s easy to feel that you are taking on the world by yourself, but you are truly not alone. The fact that someone is reading this means just that. There are literally hundreds of millions of people who struggle with mental illness around the world. And you are surrounded by people who love you. They love you with or without a mental illness. Never forget that. 

3. Mental illness does not make you weak:

This will be one of the hardest truths to understand. You will feel like something is wrong with you. In your dark moments, you will feel weak. But you aren’t. You are strong. You are strong for seeking help. In fact, every day you fight, you grow even stronger. Not everyone will understand, but believe me when I tell you, you are strong.

4. Your mental illness does not define you:

As much as every facet of our lives helps define who we are, you must never let your mental illness define you. Try to use articles instead of possessives. THE depression, rather than MY depression. It may seem subtle and rather silly, but it helps. If you define yourself by your mental illness, it can only drag you down. Use it to do good things, but don’t let it use you.

5. It is ok to ask for help:

There will be times when you can’t fight it alone. There will be times when your depression is so overwhelming, you are stuck in bed for days. Know this. During those times, you are not alone in your fight (see #2). Everybody needs help. When you are sick or have a broken bone, you go see a doctor. Why should mental illness be any different?

6. Doctors are not magicians:

Along the same line, doctors are not magicians. You will see many therapists and psychiatrists before you find the ones that work for you. Don’t be disheartened. It won’t be an easy journey, but you will find the right ones. And even when you find the right ones, it will take time (years) to find what works. Be patient. Every treatment you try brings you closer to finding a treatment that works. And believe me when I tell you, you will find the right treatment.

7. Be thankful:

As hard as it may seem, practice giving thanks. You have so much fortune in your life that is easy to ignore and take for granted. Not everyone has that good fortune. And I’m not only talking about a job or a home, either. I’m talking about your family and friends. There are so many people that do not have the support system you have. You have a loving spouse who understands you deeper than anyone else in the world; you have a family who unconditionally loves you and would do anything to take care of you. These supports keep you lifted up when you feel like falling to the ground. Always remember to give thanks to those that make you a better you.

8. Take it slow:

Alex, you have a habit of going 100 mph no matter what you are doing. It feels like the only way to do it, I get that. Remember to take breaks. Remember to slow down every once in a while. Not only will it benefit your overall well-being, it allows you to stop and look at the world around you: the beautiful world of which you are a part. Don’t get my wrong, your ambition will serve you well in many respects, but it will also cause you to burn out. So keep it under control, know your limits, and remember to take it slow.