My mental health is MY responsibility
Some food for thought on this (hallmark holiday) Valentines Day ❤️
Sometimes the use of a mental health disorder can cover up or shield an individual from taking responsibility for actions, behaviors or moods, or excuse them from the work that true mental health requires.
You are not to blame for your mental health disorder but it is your responsibility to manage. It is not your excuse when anything goes wrong in your life.
There is a difference between taking a break to value your mental health and personal wellness and completely ignoring important responsibilities in your life – one shows growth and responsibility for yourself, while the other demonstrates a lack of accountability.
You cannot let your life spiral out of control until your world comes crashing down around you and walk away from the devastation as the victim.
There are many resources available to get help and guidance in your mental health journey.
If you have a job or insurance you can always ask what benefits are available through those avenues. There are so many free virtual support groups and many communities offer free support groups as well. Another great resource is local churches.
North Carolina has a Crisis Services department with free 24/7 resources available to anyone. Most states have these departments that provide several free services. 988 is the national suicide crisis and lifeline number.
You should always take all medications prescribed by medical professionals as directed. Most of the time drinking alcohol or self medicating will only make any mental health disorders worse.
At the end of the day, it is your responsibility to get help and manage your mental health. If you have a family member or loved one who is unwilling or unable to take responsibility for their own mental health, you may need to take legal action to become their guardian and make those choices for them. You are not doing them any favors by letting them “figure it out” on their own. You are enabling them to continue to make bad choices and refuse responsibility for their actions.
As for me, I am someone who will generally hibernate in the winter (even here in NC). I tend to lose motivation to do most things, gain weight, always feel tired and can get pretty irritable. I try to take advantage of any nice day we get and soak in as much vitamin D as possible. I also try to find fun activities to do with my son and as a family - which can also feel like a lot of work. I do love spending time creating artwork with my son (he created the beautiful piece above a while back) as well as spending time with my loving, kind, gorgeous husband and our friends. I would also love to hear your suggestions on getting out of the seasonal depression funk.
My advice to you on this made up holiday - be your own advocate and champion. Create your own happy space and learn to be happy with YOU. That is where true healing and happy starts…within yourself.