Through these past four years, I’ve noticed that something was off, but I didn’t really know what it was because mental health wasn’t talked about as I grew up through elementary school. Even in my home, even in middle school, it was never something that was really talked about.
I remember having panic attacks when I was little in kindergarten right before school would start, and random things here and there. But it was so spread out. It wasn’t something that my parents were concerned about, or even I was concerned about. But then as I was getting older and got into social media, I came across mental health and I started looking into it. I found out about seasonal depression, and that’s when I started learning about [mental illness] and realized something is not right. I was talking to a friend who had been going to therapy and she was like, ‘I really think you should get some help.’
Now I go to therapy regularly, and as someone who is on medication, there’s no shame in being on medication and there’s no shame in being real if someone asks you how you are doing. Don’t be afraid to open up to someone! To reach out for help in any way, whether you’re calling a hotline or talking to your parents about going to see someone, is okay. I thought the crisis hotline was that you’re calling 911 and they’re sending you to a mental hospital. [I learned] that is not the case, far from it. I think by making people aware of that hotline, people won’t be afraid to do that.
At the end of the day, we’re all human. We’re not perfect, and we’re who we are for a reason. Embrace that and use that to help others and help you learn about yourself.
— Quinn
Featured Story: Quinn
