Its been ten months since I moved into my first home. The transition to ownership has been smooth, which I am thankful for. I was fortunate enough to find a new build in Martensville, SK, I am not a handy person, so the thought of having to do renovations, or any sort of maintenance work terrifies me.  I've never even painted, so imagine me fixing a leaky facet. No thanks.

One of the benefits of being in a condo is no yard work. The downside is little space for flowers or plants, which I never thought I would care about. But I'm making it work. I'm creating a little oasis on my balcony. I cannot wait to spend time out there reading and soaking up the sun.

I am taking pleasure in the little things and extremely happy life (God) has brought me here.

A couple of months ago, I reached out to a few friends asking them to tell their stories and/or experiences dealing with mental health issues.

It is a big step for anyone to share and I am grateful they said yes. A few decided to stay anonymous (and that is okay).  They are brave, loved, and appreciated.

In honour of Mental Health Week (May 2-8, 2016) - I would like to share a bonus story by Hunter.

My experience dealing with my mental health has been long and difficult. Since I was young I have always dealt with anxiety and had already started going to therapy when I was in grade four. My parents noticed from a young age that I struggled with my day to day habits and often dealt with panic attacks. As I entered grade eight I was diagnosed with OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder). I spent endless hours every day dealing with my obsessions and compulsions that kept me from living a healthy life. I had many phobias and coped with them by using my OCD. If something was out of place, or I didn’t take enough steps in a day I would be in extreme panic. I have often felt like an outcast and have been embarrassed about the compulsions I needed to complete in public. It’s never easy when you are dealing with something that you feel like nobody understands or can relate to. My counsellor and I figured out a plan of action for my treatment, I saw psychiatrists and went through an extensive process to redirect my thoughts and fight my compulsions.  I found ways to deal with my panic attacks and I was eventually able to live a life that was not solely controlled by my OCD.
 
I still struggle today and every day with my anxiety and panic disorder, I see a counsellor quite regularly as I am still trying to overcome my issues. I often find myself reverting back to my OCD when I'm stressed, nervous, or faced with a difficult situation. I realized along the way that I was surrounded by people who loved and cared about me. You are not the only one who deals with mental health and that feels lost. Opening up about my experience has liberated me, you never know who you are inspiring and helping along the way with your story.

A couple of months ago, I reached out to a few friends asking them to tell their stories and/or experiences dealing with mental health issues.

It is a big step for anyone to share and I am grateful they said yes. A few decided to stay anonymous (and that is okay).  They are brave, loved, and appreciated.

In honour of Mental Health Week (May 2-8, 2016) - I would like to share a fifth (and final) story.

When I agreed to contribute to Mavis’ guest blog posts I had many failed drafts already written, as I’ve been considering posting about the topic of depression and anxiety since October 2015. Mavis is a good and supportive friend, and I’ve always felt that she is brave in being open and honest about her experiences. Shortly after I agreed to contribute, I began regretting my decision. What do I say? How do I say it? Frankly, I’m still unsure…

Recently, a number of people I know have struggled with depression and have felt that they are alone, will be judged, or have no one to talk to. I’ve often thought that if I were more open about my experiences with depression and anxiety perhaps it would help even one person. And while I’m still not at the point where I’m comfortable attaching my name or telling my whole story, I can assure anyone dealing with anxiety or depression that they are not alone.

Anxiety and depression, which often go together, have both affected my life. While it’s easy for me to think that I’m the “weird one”, it’s probably more normal to have dealt with anxiety and/or depression than not. Sometimes it’s still hard for me to not associate weakness, failure and, truthfully, a lot of anger with most of my past. I look back and can see that I lost months, and even years, to this illness. It’s also hard to not focus on the people that turned away from me when I finally confided in them that I’ve experienced depression. On the other hand, I’m so thankful for the wonderful, important people in my life who see me for who I am as a person, who have taken the time to be supportive and encouraging, who have helped me grow, and who understand that depression and anxiety do not define me. They affect me at times, but it doesn’t make me who I am. Sure, sometimes it worries me knowing that there is no guarantee that I will not experience some level of depression again. However, there is no guarantee for any of us; you or someone close to you may experience depression at some point in life.

One of the hardest and most important lessons I’ve learned over the past few years is that asking for help is not a weakness, especially in regards to your health. I lost so much time feeling like I was barely living simply because I was determined to overcome depression and anxiety by myself. If you are dealing with depression or anxiety, opening yourself up to get the help you need medically is the hardest and bravest step you can take. Know that you are not alone. And for those of us who are doing well right now or have never known what it’s like to deal with depression and/or anxiety, we need to remember to be mindful of ourselves and our treatment of those around us. It costs nothing to show kindness or compassion to yourself and those around you.