#WorldMentalHealthDay

Alright guys, this is going to be long so area in. Sorry not sorry.

I am afflicted with bipolar II, a severe anxiety disorder, CPTSD, and OCD. I am unashamed to share this because of two things. One--raising awareness. We need to normalize talking about

mental health. This leads me to my second point--I share this to try and destigmatize it. If you have the flu, you tell people, right? If you have a migraine, you talk about it, right? Broken bone, go to the doctor and get a cast, right?

How is having an unwell brain any

different? In all those instances, you go to the doctor and get medicine and tips to help you, right? You seek professional help to make yourself better, right?

Yet it's not so clear-cut with mental illness. A deep rooted shame comes with it. People don't want to or are

afraid to talk about it. This does ABSOLUTELY NOTHING but ruin lives. It ruins quality of life, it ruins families. It can oftentimes lead to addiction's and other maladjusted behavior. It can even lead to death. DEATH, PEOPLE. Suicide is RAMPANT throughout the world. Suicide

furthers the problem by scarring those loved one's left behind. It creates mental health challenges for themselves. It's a viscous, perpetual cycle that is just a vortex of a cesspool that engulfs EVERYONE.

So today, on this world mental health day, I challenge you.

If you need to cry, cry. If you're not okay, speak up. My DM is forever open. If you're about to break, take the day off and practice some self care. Reach out, talk to someone you love. Someone you trust.

You're not alone. Got that? You're never alone.

I love you. Be well.

**strap in not area in. Ugh, phone! Come on!!! Sorry for the typo.