Content Warnings: Anxiety, depression, panic/panic attacks, PTSD and Rehabilitation
Dear friend,
I hope you’re taking care of your mental health. The semester’s wrapped up, and I took it upon myself to start therapy indefinitely. Now, I’ve been to therapy several times in the past, but it often took a major mental breakdown for me to seek professional help. But I noticed that when I stopped feeling the after-effects of my breakdown, I’d tell my therapist I’m doing better, and therefore do not need any more sessions. But what I failed to realize at the time, is that a few sessions of therapy has a very minimal impact on the past 10 years or so of underlying hurt and trauma.
Mental health care should not be a “one and done” kind of situation. I like to think of it like going to the doctor for an annual check-up to make sure my body’s functioning properly. We should do the same for our minds. People often forget that mental and physical health are deeply intertwined, and that the poor condition of one will likely affect the other.
To whoever is reading:
I hope you can make it a priority to take care of your physical and mental health, and seek therapy, if you can. If we can go to the doctor for our physical health, then we should certainly be allowed to go to a mental health professional for our mental health.
Sincerely,
A friend
