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The past 7 months I’ve been dealing with the worst mental health struggles I’ve ever dealt with. I wanted to make this thread for anyone else going through similar, and what’s worked for me
I’ve struggled with terrible PTSD, depression, depersonalization, anxiety, and ADHD. My triggers were at an all time high. I felt stuck like I couldn’t do anything. I didn’t feel like I was in control of my own body, as if I were in a dream. This is what I wish someone told me
It’s okay to not be okay. It’s okay to not do things properly, but do the best that you can. Brush your teeth for 30 seconds, do your homework in bed, walk your dog in your pajamas, pick up one piece of trash.
Maybe you don’t have the energy to do all the tasks at 100%, or how they’re “supposed” to be done, but doing them at all helps you build habits, and eventually you’ll be able to do them how you really want to.
It’s okay to ask for help. Being vulnerable doesn’t make you weak. Think of all the people you’ve seen speak up on their mental health, did you think they were weak, or strong for still being here?
Stop focusing on “what’s wrong with you.” Once I stopped thinking “I can’t do this because I have xyz,” I felt more inclined to do that thing. Often our anxieties come from focusing on what’s wrong with us, and those feelings of guilt instead of what could still go right.
Set realistic goals! If you struggle getting out of bed in the morning, making a to do list that includes every single thing you’ve put off for the last year is going to make you more anxious, and less likely to do anything at all on that list.
Make a goal so small you know you can achieve it. Make your goal for the day just to brush your teeth, or wash one dish. If it’s more than you did yesterday, it’s a step in the right direction.
You’re going to fall behind, and that’s okay. When you’re mentally healthy again, you’ll be able to catch up. So many incredible people have had to start over, and have still found success and happiness.
Remember the first voice in your head, those intrusive thoughts, aren’t the real you. The rational voice is the real you. Use it. Talk to yourself aloud. When you hear that negative voice, speak up and say no! Say “I can do hard things. I am capable.”
Don’t listen to the people who tell you to stop being lazy, and to suck it up. Most likely they haven’t dealt with serious mental health struggles. The way you think, and the way you see the world isn’t the same as everyone else.
Everyone tells you to just get therapy, but it’s not that easy. Beside financial constraints, therapists can be damn near impossible to book! When I tried, I was told they were booked for the next 6 months. No one in a 50 mile radius even accepted my insurance.
If you can’t access therapy, try journaling. Therapists often just ask you questions, and let you vent about them. Ask yourself, why do you feel this way? When did it start? What are some goals you have? There are also free journal prompts online for all sorts of things.
If you’ve isolated yourself and have no one to talk to, try online support groups. Reddit has subs dedicated to venting, specific mental health disorders, and giving advice. Some sites have free group support over zoom, for example 
Eating healthy will help you feel better, but don’t deny yourself the things you love. Get some healthy convenient snacks, such as graham crackers, fruit snacks, protein shakes, popcorn, bananas. Make a goal of eating at least one thing a day to start.
Narrate what you’re doing as if telling someone else. Record yourself if it helps. “Right now I’m going to take a shower. In the shower I’m going to wash my hair with shampoo and my body with my body wash. When I’m done I’ll dry off and brush my teeth.”
This helped me to feel more connected to my body again, instead of feeling like I was looking at a screen of someone else’s life. It helped me feel in control, because I was the one speaking, and following through. I felt as if some imaginary person was holding me accountable.
If you’re around other people, explain your triggers and how they can best support you. Communicate your needs before you have a panic attack or lose control. Do you want to be touched? What do you want them to say to you? Do you need reassurance or space?
Meditation and mindfulness practices are excellent for feeling more grounded and in tune with your body. Meditation isn’t always sitting still and thinking of nothing. You can meditate in the shower, while walking, or eating. Even going for a car ride can be a form of meditation.
Grab some food that you like. With each bite, ask yourself, how does it smell? What color(s) do you see? Let each bite sit in your mouth. How does it feel, what’s the texture like? What does it taste like? How do you feel when you eat it?
Some days you’re going to feel better. Some days you’ll cross everything off your to-do list, and some days you’re too overwhelmed to get up. Just because you feel okay one day doesn’t mean that your struggles aren’t real. Just think of it as proof you can get better.
Celebrate the little successes. Go easy on yourself, so that you’re prepared for when you’re ready to be you again. All the mental work you do now can help you for the rest of your life, understanding your mind, and how to take care of yourself. It wasn’t all for nothing.
You deserve compassion just like you give out to others. No matter what problems occur, or how behind you get, it’s all fixable. Your life isn’t ruined, because you’re still here, still breathing. Maybe it doesn’t always go as planned, but it doesn’t mean it wasn’t for the best.
