Opening Our Minds About Mental Health

Disclaimer: This is in no way telling you what to do! I am simply sharing my story. I believe that we should each do what is best for us individually.

Mental health. A discussion that is taboo for some and common sense for others.

This topic isn’t easy to talk about, because everyone has a different opinion, which can either lead to intense disagreements or meaningful conversations. The fact is, everyone deals or will deal with something that affects their mental health in a positive or negative manner. This phenomenon is UNIVERSAL. Unlike politics, social status, etc. which vary from city to city, state to state, and country to country, issues dealing with mental health vary from person to person.

May is Mental Health Awareness month, and I wanted to use our platform in order to tell a little bit of my story surrounding therapy and my own mental health.

I began going therapy in January of 2020. After months and months of considering this option and talking to my parents I decided to go and try it out, and I have been going ever since.

Therapy has helped me learn how to ground myself during intense moments of anxiety, it has helped me come to terms with events that I have gone through, and most importantly I have learned more about myself in these past 5 months than ever in my 16 years of life. I have always been a worrier and a little pessimistic but with the help of therapy, I have been working on overcoming those two behaviors because I noticed that they were not healthy for me.

Don’t get me wrong. I haven’t been magically cured and trust me I still worry, I still do “the leg tap” and cry about life. But therapy has made me realize that my feelings are valid, and that there is a way to cope without ignoring your issues.

There are ALL kinds of therapy out there, and certain types work for people and some don’t. My therapist uses hands-on activities in order to look into my mind and help me express what I’m feeling. I have found that this helps me open up more easily and discover thoughts and feelings that I wouldn’t have explored if I had just sat there and talked.

If you are looking to begin therapy I encourage you to do some research in order for you to find the right fit for you!

More recently, I have been struggling with family issues as well as grieving over certain parts of my life. Specifically, my move from Brazil 8 years ago. I moved in 2012 to Utah when I was 8 years old and I have always dreaded 2020 because it means I have lived in the US for longer than I lived at home, Brazil. This is difficult for me because with each passing day I feel as if I am losing a part of myself.

I hadn’t realized that this grief was affecting my life in a much bigger way than I thought it was until I sat down (through Zoom) with my therapist and did a painting project where I displayed my emotions about a certain event that has just happened in my family. As I described the painting to my therapist I realized that behind all of my feelings there was an underlying culprit, the move.

In order for me to further understand what I am grieving over, my therapist gave me an art project. I chose to do a collage (pictured below) and after 2 hours of searching through magazines and cutting out words that spoke to me, I knew what I had to do and I began constructing the Brazilian flag and then I put words and phrases on top of the flag that resonated with my thoughts and grievances. This was a very fun but also meaningful process that helped me see my thoughts visually, which is hard when you’re just talking. I highly recommend art as a coping mechanism!

The month of May is dedicated to breaking the barrier, defying the stigma surrounding mental health, and encouraging individuals to take a stand for themselves and seek help. This is a very sensitive topic but one that needs to be normalize in our society. Throughout this month, celebrities around the world have been using their platforms as a way to normalize and stimulate conversations about aspects of mental health such as depression, anxiety, mental disorders and more. For example, Demi Lovato has shared her story on dealing with eating and mental disorders, and addiction.

You can help normalize conversations about mental health by talking to friends and family members. More importantly, keep in mind that we are all different and unique, people handle experiences differently. Remember to be respectful, not cross boundaries and be there for the people you love when they need you!

Collage by Beca Damico.