A couple weeks ago I binge watched 13 Reasons Why (I’m late to the game, I know) in a matter of two days. TWO DAYS! Can someone say, “get a life?” As ashamed I am that I watched 13 hours of TV in 48 hours, I couldn’t stop. I was on an emotional roller coaster. At first, I liked the show. Then, I hated it. Half way through I didn’t Hannah’s character, and then I couldn’t stand Clay. I had a lot of feelings watching the show but overall, I think it was effective. I know there’s a lot of controversy over whether or not it glamorizes suicide and revenge but, I’m not writing this post to argue that one way or the other. This show is effective because it opens up a dialogue. Teens, adults, men, women, and people of all different ages and backgrounds started talking about suicide and mental health. Something that is typically considered taboo to talk about was suddenly all over social media and impossible to avoid.
I have family members who have been affected by suicide. I have friends who have been affected by suicide. And, the one thing I know is, it has a significant ripple effect. Even if you don’t know the person who committed suicide first-hand, that doesn’t mean you don’t feel some kind of loss, grief, sadness, anger, or disappointment because of it. Watching someone you care about grieve isn’t easy. There are no right words to say and you can’t help them pick up the pieces when they fall apart.
Talking about mental health and suicide is important.
I’m not ashamed to admit that I saw a counselor in college. I was going through a lot my sophomore year and I didn’t know exactly how to handle everything at once. I had a minor mental breakdown and decided I needed help sorting everything out. And, that’s okay. You don’t have to do everything on your own. You can ask for help, and that help doesn’t have to come from friends or family. If you’d rather keep your mental health a private issue, there are all kinds of resources you can seek. The most important thing to note is that you’re not alone. Tough times happen. Shit doesn’t work out. You try and fail a million times and sometimes it really feels like nothing is ever going to work itself out. But, rough times don’t last forever. Even if you take baby steps to get through your day – it’s something.
We go to the doctor for checkups and the dentist for cleanings, but how often do you do a mental health check on yourself? I think we can get so caught up in work, school, our social life, our family, etc, that we sometimes forget to take care of ourselves. Start taking a mental note on how you feel every day, week, or month. Check in with yourself to see how your mind is doing and take a step back from anything that might be having a negative affect on your mental wellness. So many things are going on in the world around us today, and it’s all being thrown in our faces on social media, the news, literally everywhere, that I’d be surprised if there’s anyone who doesn’t struggle with their mental health sometimes. So, take note, take a break, and don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. We’re all just trying to figure it out one day at a time.
