My Mental Health Journey in a Nutshell

For mental health awareness I wanna share something close to my heart. If you struggle, or love someone who struggles, please read on.

In today’s society, mental health is often seen and treated at the surface level. A quick diagnosis and a quick band-aid, such as pharmaceutical drugs. While drugs like anti-depressants can soften the edges of depression, we need to look at the totality of the person. The holistic approach. I only know this because it’s what I did for myself and have been doing for the past 10 years.

I took a serious look at my own bullshit, and things that were in my life that were not serving me, and in some cases making things considerably worse. I made it my responsibility to take care of myself and my ways, not only for me, but for everyone I encountered in the world around me. I improved my diet and exercise. I found what my body needed, not what someone else’s body needed.

I began sitting in silence in a quiet room for at least 20 minutes a day and check in with my body and my psyche, otherwise known as meditation. I’ve worked persistently to cut out addictions from my life - basically any 'rush' big or small that I would run to in a matter of seconds any time I encounter an intensely difficult feeling and seek to cover it up rather than face. I looked at my mental diet - the information I take in through my senses and how much of it is harmful or disconnecting to my image of myself or other people. I looked at the people in my life - who treated me with love and respect, and who disrespected, used, and abused. I forgave people. I forgave myself. I found ways I can serve and help others. I found ways I can express my creativity; that which 'sets my soul on fire’. 

This has become a spiritual journey for me, and that word probably has baggage or misunderstanding attached to it for many people. But I’ve understood how much of a vast and complex being I am and how vast and complex we all are and how vast and complex this whole universe is basically, and that there is love and intelligence all around us. We don’t have a mental health crisis, or a political crisis, or an environmental crisis. We have a spiritual crisis. We’re cut off from our true selves, which means we’re cut off from other people, which means we’re cut off from the world, which means we’re cut off from nature. We need to remember that we are One with Nature, not some golden exception - lesser than, or greater than.

I don’t say all this because I think I’ve got it all worked out. I know very little. We know very little. All I can do is share my experience, and in my experience, I’ve shifted my life in a number of positive ways to where I once was. I am still a trainwreck at times, but a persistent and empowered trainwreck.

Mastering your Self (the tricky bastard right where you sit) is one of the hardest things you will ever do, but is THE most liberating thing you will ever do.