Treeglow Flicker

Mental Health Awareness Beyond The Awareness Month A chance to share your stories and help promote the importance of mental health. Although Mental Health Awareness Month is traditionally held every May each year, we are setting up this thread for beyond that month. Because why not? After all, mental health is an ongoing thing for each and everyone of us throughout the entirety of our lives. Our minds are a constant companion. Our minds are there when we wake up and when we sleep. They are there when we work and also when we play. Also, our minds are there when we are with others and when we are alone. Our minds are always with us. And each and every mind is unique and individual with its own myriad of experiences. Hence why it is absolutely important that we look after our mental health and the mental health of others. Everybody who lives, has their inner demons. Internal conflicts brought about by bad experiences or circumstances that have shaped their lives in one way or another. These internal struggles can exist as echoes of the past in our memories from things like trauma and other bad experiences. Exist in the present moment as we navigate the stresses of ongoing ordeals be it through everyday living or disability. And even in the future, in the form of worries and fears of what that future might hold. There are things in our minds that can take us to dark places and make us contemplate decisions that one would not be able to return from. Or make us make terrible mistakes through lashing out because of emotional pain that one cannot shake off. It can be a personal hell. A room you want out of, but with no door or window in sight. With those mental struggles, we can find ourselves alone - even when surrounded by those we hold dear to us. There are often times where it can be frustrating when one speaks up about their mental and emotional struggles and finds that their words aren't reaching out in the way they desperately need them to be heard. Often unintentionally misinterpreted by those who are well meaning... Or generalized by those who half listen... Or dismissed with general social niceties expressing sorrow and no further thought beyond that... Then from more evil places, there are those who are maliciously mocked for their suffering... Or flat out not believed by those pathologically driven by ideologies to the point of persecution. Poor mental health can affect anyone and at any point in time. Brought about through uninvited circumstances and ordeals. Some of us in this life having been born with such ordeals through disability. It can be extremely lonely and suffocating. And this is where our own awareness can make all the difference. There is no one size fits all cure. But understanding and support goes a very long way towards helping those who are struggling mentally. It is important not to just stand on the sidelines, expecting those suffering in the darkness to crawl towards the light. But to step into the darkness ourselves and sit with those who are suffering in that darkness and being there with them through their pain. To not simply listen and say "I'm sorry" but to listen and say "How can I help? Show me how to understand." This has been a bit of a lecture on my part. But now, it is over to all those who are reading this. Whatever you are going through mentally or have been through. Be it through depression or some form of mental disability, this thread is for you to share your stories about your own mental health. From the general everyday stresses that you face, to those of you who are fighting far longer and severe battles. A chance to sit in the darkness together and share your experiences so that those around you can listen in the hope that they can come to understand. To become aware. Maybe to even help heal. It is also a chance to share stories about how you have overcome mental illness or such related struggles. A chance to share experiences that may also passively serve as advice for those who are suffering what you escaped from. Or even still keep at bay. And beyond this thread. I invite everyone to check in on your friends and acquaintances. To make sure that they are doing okay and to be there if they are going through hard times. Even if it's to lend an ear to listen or just give them some silent company to sit together to take away any loneliness they might be experiencing. Although a heavy topic. I sincerely hope that it brings out a lot of good, and promotes awareness of the importance of maintaining mental health and helping those who are suffering due to mental illness. Your minds are forever a companion. Love them and look after them.