April is up and so is April fools day. I hope nobody made a joke on mental health. Why? It is because mental health was never a joke!
I used to hear people joking saying sorry because they weren’t able to take their medicine pills. But wait until it happens to you, you’ll surely know that gnawing feeling. I know sometimes people mean well or maybe just become their usual judger selves, but to empathize is a must.
Sometimes, it is common for people with certain mental health conditions to communicate and empathize with each other. Sometimes if you don’t go through mental health problems, it is hard to understand people with mental health conditions. It’s a hard fact.
You may be a mental health professional or not, mental health may come right at you. There are psychologists and psychiatrists with their own mental health problems and they use it as a means to inspire others. They are the knowing and feeling type, who wish that people will not go through the same experience that’s why they get out of their way to help. They may have bipolar disorder, panic anxiety or other mental issues.
Why? Let’s stop saying that mental issues are for the weak at heart and mind because relatively anyone or even everyone can go through a mental crisis once or even more in their lives.
Mental health advocates come out because in a make-believe system of resilience, people are not alone and every feeling is valid. To be strong-willed is not easy. Sometimes, those who we see as strong are the ones hanging by a thread. That’s why the words “how are you” or “kamusta ka” are enough. Some people ask me this, but I would always say “I’m okay” but sometimes it’s not really the case. However, it’s okay to not be okay.
Sometimes, I get to be honest of my condition with the right people and with the right time mainly because I’m scared and frustrated to bother others. They say you have to keep it in you and mind your own business. But in the case of mental health, knowing we have someone to listen to our rants is like baring your soul with honesty. Some people say it’s just drama, but it was never a make-up stage acting. It is a true emotion of, perhaps – joy, mania, courage, panic, amazement, anger, trauma, sadness and everything in-between or perhaps – beyond! It may also be a combination or series of emotions both good and bad. Why? We are all humans feeling and needing other humans too.
The next time you’re feeling sad or blue or a mix of negative things, know that there is hope and people who can truly listen.