Thread by @JMattMke, As a mental health advocate who also struggles, I find it important [...]

As a mental health advocate who also struggles, I find it important to be open about my experiences... especially when I’m struggling.

And yes, during these “unprecedented times”, I am struggling.

I realized yesterday that I’m depressed. (1/?)

How do you just “realize” one day that you’re depressed? You look for signs in yourself.

Things that cause you to act and behave differently than usual.

If you’re not in touch with yourself, it can actually be a bit hard to see... time to change that! (2/?)

For me, I have never had good sleep habits... but staying up past 2am and staying in bed or sleeping beyond 10am, that’s definitely different for me.

Not wanting to get out of bed and feeling hopeless about the future; more signs (for me ...and many). (3/?)

Being LESS talkative - for me, that’s a big sign! I just don’t want to chat with people/friends/family as much as I did before April 2.

These are the bigger signs that I’ve noticed in myself over the last few weeks as we have been put into self-quarantine for our safety. (4/?)

In my past I have had severe depression which is accompanied by suicidal ideation.

I know it is not that extreme (no thoughts of suicide, yet!) but mild depression gone unchecked is a cause for concern... because it could lead to more serious issues. (5/?)

I did have a therapist that I saw when I had a job and everything was good - ON insurance it cost me $70/session; now that I’m off, it will cost me $150/session.

I know the power of asking for help and talking to a professional can be very helpful. (6/?)

So... I asked for therapy suggestions via my IG story and got a recommendation for @betterhelp which offers 24/7 online therapy.

I downloaded and filled out their questionnaire and the results suggested mild depression (as I suspected). (7/?)

The thing that really caught my eye is that it’s just $45/week due to COVID-19 (normally $65/week) - paid once a month (I had a friend mention it could be quarterly for some).

So, even at the normal rate, it’s more affordable than with insurance... I’m in! (8/?)

As I started writing out this thread, I was matched with a counselor who got their degree at a UW school!

I was not expecting to match with someone within an hour of reaching out for help! (9/?)

If anyone has sought out a therapist before, they will understand the involved process that can go into finding someone who is taking on new clients.

So far, it’s been easy and I have a professional to talk with! (10/?)

I know I often try to put positivity out into the world, especially on social media - but I also think it’s important to be authentic about mental health issues and the process that goes into staying healthy (or getting healthy). (11/?)

Even if you don’t make your struggles known publicly (which I totally understand!) - make sure you have SOMEONE you trust that you can talk to.

If you’re in crisis, you can also contact @800273TALK or @CrisisTextLine (both available 24/7/365). (12/12)

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