May is Mental Health Awareness Month

Many people struggle with anxiety, depression and/or other mental health diagnoses. These are invisible ailments that often aren't treated with the same level of compassion as physical ones. We've come a long way against the stigma of mental health issues and therapy, but not far enough. Too many people suffer silently, afraid to tell their friends and family they are struggling. I specialize in OCD and Disordered Eating. The experience of living with these two in particular often leaves folks isolated and terrified to share what life is really like for them. Hiding therapy appointments from even the closest of friends is still more common than you might think. Many clients with a diagnosis experience shame around not being able to "get a handle on it" on their own, or feel that they should be able to "shake it" if they just tried hard enough or if they were a stronger person. Would we ever expect an insulin dependent diabetic to just "shake it off" or someone with a thyroid disorder to skip their meds and "get a handle on it." That's ridiculous. This month is Mental Health Awareness Month - let's all reflect on our own mental health (and what we're doing to improve or maintain it), as well as how we can be supportive to those in our lives who may be struggling with mental health issues. On that note, here's a Huffington Post article:  7 Things You Shouldn't Say to Someone with Anxiety .