Mental illness. It’s taboo. It’s embarrassing. It’s awkward.
It’s an excuse. It’s pathetic. It’s not even real.
Or so some say.
No one ever wants to talk about it. Sorry. (Not sorry.) I’m
going to talk about it anyway.
As someone who
struggles with both depression and anxiety I can personally attest that, YES-it
can be embarrassing. It CAN be awkward. But it is NOT an excuse. It is NOT
pathetic. And it is just as real as cancer, or diabetes, or breaking your
bones.
And it can hurt just as bad.
Just because you don’t see the wounds someone feels doesn’t
mean they aren’t feeling them. If your friend broke their back, you would
probably wince at the thought of their pain. Even when someone has a headache,
you instantly feel for them and quickly dig in your purse to find them some
Excedrin to relieve the discomfort they are experiencing.
And while I think that our society has come a long way with
understanding various mental illnesses that people endure, I still think that many
individuals often lack empathy and compassion for these hard-to-see trials.
Heaven forbid people take medication or-dare I say it?! Go
to counseling. Because it’s all in
your head! It’s just you having a bad attitude. You should just exercise more.
Stop sleeping in. Quit worrying about things you can’t control. Pray more. Be
less selfish. Do more things for other people and quit feeling sorry for
yourself.
We’ve all heard that before. Maybe even said it somebody we
didn’t seek to understand.
But seriously folks, there is nothing selfish about
struggling with any sort of mental illness. And it also does not mean you are a
negative person. In fact, some of the sweetest and happiest people I know have
some of the saddest and most poignant, personal struggles of anyone I know.
Funny how happiness does not always come when things are
easy. In fact easiness has nothing to do with happiness.
But admitting there are challenges, finding attainable
solutions, having a solid network of people who love you, praying your heart
out to God, and getting a weenie dog are the keys to combatting some of life’s
toughest obstacles. Even if your hurdles are not visible to anybody else.
If you struggle with any type of mental illness just know
that you are NOT alone. It’s cliché, and it’s sometimes annoying to hear that.
Because trust me. I get it. Sometimes you feel SO alone. But you don’t have to
feel that way.
One of the greatest decisions I ever made in my life-and I’m
not kidding at all when I say this-was buying a dachshund-mix puppy from a
Craigslist ad.
And you can chuckle or even roll your eyes at that. But that
Craigslist puppy has saved my life in more ways than one.
Around the time I decided to find a dog I had heard of
people getting companion animals, or therapy pets. I heard they really helped
fill those voids that depression, anxiety, and loads of other struggles can
create.
So my Craigslist search began. And every day after school
and work, I would come home and look at zillions of dogs. But when I saw a
black and brown puppy with ginormous paws (that he never grew into by the way),
I had to meet him in real life. And as soon as I met him I told his owners I
would be right back. I hit up the Wells Fargo ATM and picked that puppy up.
And thank goodness I did.
And even though he has eaten some of my favorite pairs of
shoes that I still mourn over, that dog has been the best Lexapro or counseling
I’ve ever had.
He made the loneliest time in my life much sweeter than I ever
thought it could be. He is the best listener I’ve ever vented to. He gets me
out of my bed every morning because he knows we both need the exercise and the
sunshine. And he is always happy to see me. He is the most loyal friend and the
snuggliest roommate. And even when he is obnoxious I can’t really hold it
against him. Because he has the guiltiest conscience of anyone I know and he
shows it in those pretty, brown eyes of his.
In fact, I literally think Ernie has anxiety too. Maybe he
needs a therapy hamster. (Or something along those lines.)
But seriously, if you are an animal person and you deal with
depression or anxiety or your marriage is sad or you face unemployment or you
have any health problems whatsoever, then for heaven sakes, get a dog! And I
hear that weenie dog mixes work the best. Just sayin’.
If you’re not an animal person, then no wonder you are
depressed.
Just kidding. But become one. It will change your life.
It’s cheesy, I know. But in every prayer I pray to Heavenly
Father, I thank Him for Ernie. And sometimes during our bedtime prayers Ernie
is reverent. And sometimes he is not. But always he is sweet. And I have needed
him so much more than I ever realized.
And while praying and trying to serve others is a great
remedy for not getting sucked into your own hard things, God understands that
medication, counseling, family, good friends, and weenie dogs are the most effective
remedies for facing the trials He gives us.
So please. Hang in there. You are NOT alone. Especially if
you have a 17-pound weenie dog who somehow manages to take up more than half
your bed every single night.
Yep, definitely not alone.
And thank heavens for that.
