Today is the annual Bell Let's Talk day to raise awareness and money for mental health in Canada.
Before they found the vitamin deficiency, I wondered if I was having a mental health issue. I didn't feel like myself at all. I had bouts of what I can only describe as rage. Anyone who knows me can tell you I'm pretty easy-going. Most things I don't get upset over. But this? Every time a cabbie cut me off, I would get so angry! There'd be a stream of obscenities and it would wreck a large part of my day despite logically knowing a cab driver would probably cut me off. I would also switch moods rapidly. I could suddenly find myself weeping over something that normally wouldn't be a big deal like being unable to open a juice container. I felt like the real me was trying to climb out while some imposter was living my life. I didn't want to tell anyone either. I was worried people would think I was mentally unstable.
What do I think now? I wish I hadn't been afraid to talk about it. No one should have to feel that way. It sucks so bad that people have to worry that their boss might find out they're in counseling because their marriage isn't doing so hot or they're struggling to make payments and put food on the table or that they have PTSD or that anything is wrong with them at all.
People shouldn't have to feel like they're dirty or weak because they're on an antidepressant. I took one for a couple of months when I was working through my divorce. I never felt bad about that. There was nothing wrong, to me, with needing a little help to get my life back together. At that time, my vitamin D was also low. I was sad often. I didn't have suicidal thoughts. I got help before it got bad.
Isn't the mature and responsible thing to do to get help? Isn't it in everyone's best interest to get help sooner rather than later? Shouldn't mental health be treated more like a routine checkup like checking for vitamin levels?
Will anyone care about this issue tomorrow?
Writing Update
Other
Well, off to work on my other short story for a different contest.
Ciao,
R~
Before they found the vitamin deficiency, I wondered if I was having a mental health issue. I didn't feel like myself at all. I had bouts of what I can only describe as rage. Anyone who knows me can tell you I'm pretty easy-going. Most things I don't get upset over. But this? Every time a cabbie cut me off, I would get so angry! There'd be a stream of obscenities and it would wreck a large part of my day despite logically knowing a cab driver would probably cut me off. I would also switch moods rapidly. I could suddenly find myself weeping over something that normally wouldn't be a big deal like being unable to open a juice container. I felt like the real me was trying to climb out while some imposter was living my life. I didn't want to tell anyone either. I was worried people would think I was mentally unstable.
What do I think now? I wish I hadn't been afraid to talk about it. No one should have to feel that way. It sucks so bad that people have to worry that their boss might find out they're in counseling because their marriage isn't doing so hot or they're struggling to make payments and put food on the table or that they have PTSD or that anything is wrong with them at all.
People shouldn't have to feel like they're dirty or weak because they're on an antidepressant. I took one for a couple of months when I was working through my divorce. I never felt bad about that. There was nothing wrong, to me, with needing a little help to get my life back together. At that time, my vitamin D was also low. I was sad often. I didn't have suicidal thoughts. I got help before it got bad.
Isn't the mature and responsible thing to do to get help? Isn't it in everyone's best interest to get help sooner rather than later? Shouldn't mental health be treated more like a routine checkup like checking for vitamin levels?
Will anyone care about this issue tomorrow?
Writing Update
- Finished my literary short story, Purple Ribbons.
Other
- At the dentist today I had a cavity-free checkup! This has only happened one other time in my entire life.
Well, off to work on my other short story for a different contest.
Ciao,
R~