May Is Mental Health Awareness Month

May is here. It is a beautiful month filled with springtime activities like planting flowers and herbs in the garden, hosing off the porches, and cleaning the grill. For schoolchildren, May means field trips, field days, baseball and soccer games, and all the end-of-year activities. May also means Mother's Day and Memorial Day. Adding yet one more thing seems overwhelming, but it is necessary: May is Mental Health Awareness Month. 

I have written here several times over the years about my own mental health issues. There was a time, however, when I would never dream of sharing my OCD and Anxiety diagnosis. In fact, I didn't want to acknowledge them myself. Why is that? Why are we afraid to admit that a part of ourselves is broken and requires help? I've yet to meet someone afraid to tell me that he or she had a broken arm. Or what about the person with astigmatism, diabetes, kidney problems, or gall bladder issues? We support them, pray for them, and even make meals when hospitalized or undergoing procedures. Yet, when a person has a piece of his or her brain that isn't working correctly, resulting in one of many mental health issues, that person often feels ashamed and afraid to share for fear of the stigma attached. 

I know people who feel that way. They carry the heavy burden of anxiety in silence, allowing it to consume their minds and lives. They refuse help, fearing being seen as weak or worse, strange, odd, or troubled. They won't go to therapy because what good will that do? They would never try medication, because that is a sign of weakness, meaning they should be able to deal with things themselves. If they feel comfortable sharing with someone close, they are told they will be fine if they just relax, meditate, work harder, do yoga, take a walk, or tough it out. 

Whether or not those words and thoughts are accurate, they exist in the mind of a person dealing with mental illness. And that makes them real to them. We as a society have come a long way, but we have a long way to go. Until someone with OCD, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, Depression, Eating Disorders, or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder feels confident saying, " I am on medication for Depression," or " I can't today because I have therapy for my anxiety disorder," or "I would like to come, but my OCD is acting up today," without fear of shame or judgement, we must continue to draw attention and bring awareness to this issue. At least I think so! Many others say it much better than I do...

One more thing. If you are suffering from a mental illness of any kind, please know you are not alone, no matter what your mind tells you. Take the first step. Admit to yourself that you want help. Trust me. There is a whole great big world outside your mind!

Billie Jo

( P.S. I am proud to say that after many years working with the most compassionate, non-judgmental therapist, as well as working with my patient and kind doctors to find the correct medicine and dosage, I am living my best life, with OCD and Anxiety under control. )

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