MENTAL HEALTH JOURNEY

It's always up and down, and I think the past few years there's been a steady decline with increased social media and life just generally being hectic. It’s interesting though because I am hyper-aware that I'm not doing the best I'm hyper-aware of what I need to do to get better I know that for me, I would benefit from establishing a daily routine that includes journaling or meditating. Although I have this list of things that I know will help me feel better, it’s challenging to actually start doing them I don’t have the energy to bring myself to a point where these are just things I do habitually. At the same time it's important to identify with the version of yourself you want to be, so I would say I am still on the journey of getting there.

HOW DO YOU GET YOURSELF TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE? IS IT ALL ON YOU?

Having a support system is crucial to me. It's like a two-fold system - I find support within myself, but I know I can rely on my parents, friends, and family if needed Like I said, it’s not a steady decline because I'm unaware or because I don't have time to do it It’s because I have been, like many others, conditioned to put that as the last thing on my checklist There’s also the component of burnout and anxiety. I'm exhausted, just day to day. I have been exhausted for the past two years, and while there are these things I know would make myself feel better, I'm paralyzed with anxiety

I see journaling, therapy, and meditation as just another thing I have to do- a responsibility. And that makes me not want to do it I end up placing it at the bottom of my checklist At a certain point, if you are constantly thinking about needing to do all these things, when are you really relaxing? It's anxiety-inducing to think about how you're feeling all the time and question: why are you feeling this way? What are the steps you need to take to feel better? There are also so many things that are just culturally foreign to me- therapy is foreign to us, just as taking care of ourselves is, and it's rarely encouraged to prioritize 'feeling better’ Honestly, I wish I could be that person sitting here and telling you I reached the end goal. I wish I could say, "Yeah, I used to be this way, but now I'm better, and this is how I got there," but I’m not there yet