Mental Health Day: Fighting The Swarm

This isn't even close to the sort of challenges people with mental health issues. It just scratches the surface.  But if you imagine someone fighting a swarm of giant attacking bugs all day long and doing the things we all do on a day to day basis, maybe it's a little easier to understand why we seem exhausted for no apparent reason. Keep in mind, most of us are extremely practiced at appearing "fine" when we're really fighting the swarm, so what you see may not be the whole story.

Why do we appear "fine" when we're not? Because the stigma that comes with not appearing fine is an additional battle we often don't have the mental, physical, or emotional resources for.  Plus, we aren't textbooks.  Letting on how we genuinely feel often leads to a bunch of questions from well-intended concerned friends and loved ones that aren't easy, comfortable, or simple to answer.

In short: there's a lot more going on than meets the eye and it's so important to remember that.  Any mentally ill person you know facing similar challenges will appreciate it greatly if you put in the effort to remember.

Thanks!