Wade G.
Photography by Jackson Covert
If you’re reading this, we can talk about mental health.
Imagine we live in a world with a societal stigma around breaking a bone.
One day, you somehow break your pinkie toe. You’ve stubbed your toe many times, but today feels noticeably different and more heightened. It’s painfully obvious to you that it’s broken, but also to anyone who were to see you. Because of this societal stigma around breaking bones, you feel uncomfortable going to a doctor to get your broken toe treated. You walk on your broken toe all day through the pain to avoid revealing you have broken a bone to your family, friends, professors, and everyday strangers. But does your broken toe go away?
Can you imagine living in such a world? Here’s the thing: you do. Your hypothetical broken toe could actually be anxiety.
One day, you somehow wake up feeling more persistently anxious than usual. You’ve felt anxious before, but today feels noticeably different and more heightened. It’s painfully obvious to you that you’re really anxious, but also to anyone who were to see you. Because of this societal stigma around talking about mental health, you feel uncomfortable speaking to a doctor, family member, friend, or professor about your anxiety. You go through your entire day feeling anxious and keep quiet to avoid revealing you’re suffering from strong anxiety. But does your anxiety go away?
For me, it didn’t.
The next day, your hypothetical broken toe is excruciating. You’re scared: it’s gotten more painful. Do you feel like walking to class today? Tell your professor you’re sick. Do you feel like hanging out with friends tonight? Just tell them you have too much homework. Your mom calls to ask how you’re doing? Lie and tell her everything is okay. Will your toe get better tomorrow? What do you do if it doesn’t?
The next day, your anxiety is unbearable. You’re scared: it’s gotten more intense. Do you feel like going to class today? Tell your professor you’re sick. Do you feel like hanging out with friends tonight? Just tell them you have too much homework. Your mom calls to ask how you’re doing? Lie and tell her everything is okay. Will your anxiety get better tomorrow? What do you do if it doesn’t?
Take my advice: tell someone today. If it helps, think about anxiety, depression, stress, or whatever you are dealing with as a broken pinkie toe. You would tell someone if your toe was broken, and you can tell someone if you’re not feeling okay.
Even if you feel your support network is small, I promise it is larger and more powerful than you realize. Here at SMU, we have the counseling center located in the Dr. Bob Smith Health Center, the Dean of Students office including the Office of Student Support and Advocacy and the Caring Community Connections (CCC) program, the Chaplain’s Office, the Women and LGBT center, and all the staff living in your Commons including your RAs, RCDs, and FiRs.
Once I started being more open with those around me about my mental health struggles, I realized my support network goes much further than I could have imagined. You have people on your team, and the stigma is not one of them. Talk to someone if you’re not feeling okay. If you’re reading this, we can talk about mental health.
Wade G., Southern Methodist University
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