5 Mental Health Quotes to Help You Through the Struggle

Don’t give up; you are not alone, and you matter

Today, more and more people are struggling with their mental health.

According to Forbes Health, the number of anxiety and depressive disorders has grown since the COVID-19 pandemic; depressive disorders by 28% and anxiety disorders by 25%.

I, myself, have been struggling with bipolar disorder for the past seventeen years. And if you’re like me and so many others struggling with mental health, the hardest thing is feeling like you’re never going to get better.

It can be a daunting task just getting out of bed each morning, let alone be responsible for being “okay.”

But I’m here to tell you…

1. It’s okay not to be okay.

When I first discovered I had an issue with mental health, my therapist told me this almost every session. Mostly, because I had trouble seeing outside myself and because I felt an overwhelming sense of loneliness — I felt like I was the only person who was going through what I was going through.

But I wasn’t, and I’m not.

My therapist helped me realize that not being okay wasn’t a bad thing but something that everyone struggles with at some point. We all experience anxiety, sadness, anger, loneliness, depression and fear. It’s part of being human.

Life is tough and we all struggle to find our feet sometimes.

And that’s okay.

What’s important is that we keep moving forward because…

2. Mental health is not a destination, it’s a journey.

I’ve been struggling with bipolar disorder for the better part of two decades now, and what I’ve learned is that dealing with mental health is a way of life and not something that can be fixed overnight.

It’s something that has to be worked with and managed and not something that we can get rid of by taking a few pills.

It can take years of seeing therapists and psychiatrists, trying to find the right medications, and making changes to your lifestyle before you’re able to live the life you want.

But it doesn’t mean that things won’t change. You just have to be patient enough to see the bigger picture.

You must play the long game and you must keep at it, for it will get better if you keep trying.

I promise.

3. Your mental health journey is unique to you.

Everyone is different, and not all mental health journeys are the same. What depression and anxiety feel like to one person may not necessarily feel the same to someone else; it can vary by degrees and experience.

For example, there are two types of bipolar disorders: bipolar I and bipolar II. The difference between the two relates to the severity of the symptoms. Bipolar I is related to more extreme highs (or mania) and may or may not experience extreme lows (depression). But bipolar II patients experience more depression and less erratic highs than bipolar I patients. Each one is unique, and not every person experiences the same symptoms.

There is no one size-fits-all diagnosis for mental health, and we cannot expect everyone to fit into a box that’s easily managed or understood. It takes time to find out what works for you.

But, like I said before, keep at it and you’ll figure out what’s best.

4. There is no shame in seeking help for your mental health.

For a long time, I was ashamed that I lived with bipolar disorder. I went years where I was in and out of therapy and on and off medication because I felt like it made me weak.

But what I’ve come to realize over the past few years is that my diagnosis doesn’t make me who I am. Just like having a nut allergy doesn’t make a person who they are.

It’s just something I must deal with — something I can deal with.

Because taking care of your mental health is an act of self-love. And the best way to show yourself love is to ask for help, whether it be from your family, friends, a therapist, psychiatrist, or anyone else you feel comfortable sharing your struggle with.

Because everyone needs help sometimes, and that’s okay.

It’s okay not to be okay.

5. You are stronger than you realize.

The human spirit is a powerful thing. It allows us to push forward even in the face of the greatest odds, prevailing even in the darkest corners of the world. It’s something we all possess.

If you struggle with mental health, you may forget this at times. But never forget that you’re not alone. We all struggle. We all fight to live the lives we deserve. It’s something that’s bred into us from the moment we are conceived, and it’s something that can never be take away from us.

Through my own struggle, I’ve come to realize these things slowly; it’s taken me years to develop a sense of well-being that can carry me through the rigors of life.

But I’ve never given up. I’ve never stopped trying to find what works best. And I’m always seeking help for the struggle that many people find themselves battling with today.

But never forget: We are all in this together, and you’re stronger than you realize.

Onward and upward!

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