If there's one thing I'm passionate about, besides traveling, it's mental health. I've worked in the field of addictions and mental health, more or less, for nearly ten years. It's an area that I feel strongly about and will continue to advocate for, because those who find themselves suffering with issues in these areas are often overlooked, stigmatized, and are hesitant to seek help, treatment, talk about it with others, or even admit it to themselves.  

But why is there such a stigma around people who struggle with addictions and mental health issues? 1 in 5 people will struggle with a mental illness in their lifetime. It's not as if struggles with addictions and mental health issues are rare or unheard of. So, why do we feel so strongly about judging those who suffer with these diseases, yet don't feel the need to judge someone who was just diagnosed with cancer? It's not as if the person who was just given the diagnosis of Schizophrenia deserved it or wanted it anymore than someone who was just diagnosed with breast cancer. Each are difficult in their own wary. Each have their own forms of treatment with possible adverse effects. Each of these people have the right to care, treatment, support, dignity and respect. And neither of these people should be defined by their diagnosis. 

Jane is Jane. Not "Breast Cancer Jane."

John is John. Not "Schizophrenic John."

Mental health is just as important as physical health. 

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We will all struggle with some form of addiction or mental health issue throughout our lives, even if we don't reach the point of a clinical diagnosis. Perhaps we struggle with anxiety, or sometimes feel more sad than normal. Maybe we find ourselves addicted to our phones, or "likes" on social media. Or maybe we question how much we drink or eat, or find that we have unwelcome thoughts at times. And because of this, it's not a topic to shy away from.

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In fact, it's a topic I brought up in my book... more than once. One context of mental health I talk about was in regards to the pressure we put on ourselves to appear perfect in the eyes of others. Especially on social media, we can be so critical of one another. We're constantly bombarded with captions and images of happy people living perfect lives, when in all reality it's likely anything but that. And being exposed to that kind of content, day in and day out, can have catastrophic affects on someone's mental health.

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"Why do we do that to ourselves? Why do we try so hard and put so much pressure on ourselves to be flawless? The constant demand we place on ourselves to look perfect and cover up all our flaws and imperfections makes us forget that it's ok to not be ok. It's ok to be raw and show others our true self, no matter how messed up that is. We all have good days and bad days. It's important to not shy away from our struggles...."

                                - an excerpt from my book "A Day Behind and A World Away"

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We're not perfect. None of us are. We're all dealing with our own issues and have our own insecurities, flaws, and struggles. 
 

The important thing to remember about this is, whatever it is you're struggling with, you're not alone. 

"It's okay, to not be okay."

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It's ok to be sad. It's ok to be depressed. It's ok to be anxious. It's ok to hear voices. It's ok to be addicted to drugs or social media. 

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But do you know what's not ok? It's not ok to not seek help. It's not ok to not talk about it. It's not ok to judge someone else for not being perfect and having their shit together all the time. 

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Now, I'm not one for social media, for a huge host of reasons, but when I saw the opportunity to be an ambassador and spread the word on mental health, I took it. (Because when an opportunity presents itself, you take it!)

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"Own Your Stigma" is "an apparel project with a purpose." Sometimes all it takes is something or someone to start the conversation, and when I saw the phrase from my book, "it's okay to not be okay", I knew I needed to help carry that conversation further.

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And if you're intertested in some of this sweet apparel, use the code STANDUPTOENDIT for 15% off at OwnYourStigma.com

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But even if you're not, start the conversation anyways. Ask questions. Reach out. Ask for help. Talk to someone. Recognize that you're not alone in this. Someone is always available. Don't suffer alone when you don't have to. Remember, it's okay to not be okay. 

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