Jack W.
Photography by Sarah Tyner
If you're reading this, make time for yourself to enjoy the things in life that make you happy.
I’ve been thinking about how to start this letter; how to best address the stigma regarding mental health; how to best share my experiences.
I realized that the best way to do this is to be honest, open, and direct in my communication, and it’s important for me to do so because many other people are struggling with similar issues.
I’ve had some serious struggles with depression and anxiety, especially recently. It’s taken me years to seriously admit to myself that I'm depressed. Even being clinically diagnosed, I never wanted “that” label, which is dangerous. I wasn’t able to actually help myself and address my issues until I admitted that they were real.
The end of my Freshman year was the first time that I was able to do this. I took a class that focused on meditation, yoga, and being present in your mind and body. This was something that helped me in a way that nothing else ever has. It’s different for everyone, but I finally found that one thing. I found that thing that helped me center myself amidst all the chaos. That thing that got me out of bed when my body refused. That thing that made me light up. Since then, I’ve recommended it to everyone. (Not to say that yoga will work for everyone; we all have our own things).
Before, if someone had told me I had to spend time listening to my thoughts, I would’ve felt trapped because I didn't want to be alone with my own thoughts. I was scared. It took some time, but meditation and yoga have allowed me to enjoy being present and by myself. I am better able to address the negative thoughts that enter my brain, acknowledge them, and let them go, and that has been amazing for my mental health. I encourage you to not push aside your negative thoughts; rather, to sit with them so that you can learn more about yourself and grow from that experience.
I slip up sometimes. Sometimes I feel like I don’t know what I’m doing or what I’m supposed to be doing. That’s ok. Being present reminds me that I don’t need to have everything figured out. Not everybody does.
Right now, I feel overwhelmed. I should be happy. I should be overjoyed. I have amazing friends and family. There’s no reason I shouldn’t be happy, yet I’m not. That’s just how life goes. Everyday I try to remind myself to wake up and be present. To choose happiness and it will come to me. It’s going to be better. It always will. Even when I forget the things that I’ve learned, fall into a depressive episode, and it’s hard to pull myself out, I remember that’s why those things are always there for me; to help me pull myself out. To get better.
If you’re reading this, my hope is that you are able to find and build a support system for yourself; that you can remember to be happy with yourself because you deserve that; that you know when to reach out and that you’re not alone; that together we can erase the stigma around mental health so we can have a brighter future.
Jack W., Georgia Tech
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