Awareness-is it really enough?

Mental illness awareness.

Is awareness really enough though? The answer is simple....

Absolutely not.

Let me tell you about a long continuing journey in just a few short characters. From the age of 4, I was diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive disorder. A disorder, like many other disorders, ranges GREATLY from person to person. A disorder, where unfortunately, research has been unable to point to any definitive cause, similar to many others. A disorder, where even the person suffering, may not fully understand or be able to scratch the surface when it comes to articulating what they are experiencing to someone. A disorder, often times misconstrued to the point where you are classified or thrown into a certain 'box', treated differently, or put in the spotlight for people just to attempt to understand. A disorder where, just like high blood pressure for example, its physiological, meaning it is the way in which a living organism or bodily part functions simply based on its design, genetics, and chemical makeup. A disorder, where the term disorder, causes more harm as we tend to throw the label around loosely, often times forgetting the true impact certain words and actions have.

These are just a few things to point out and only begins to start the conversation about what we can do to help better the lives of people struggling with various mental illness, besides just simply being 'aware.' Unfortunately, being aware simply doesn't cut it. You can be aware of many things in life, but that does not mean being aware is coupled with actually doing something about it. Often times we find ourselves speaking on or sharing messages to create attention and awareness, or to simply show we are backing an important message. Which is great. But, often times we do so blindly, without truly knowing the root cause, the issues, or the things people are actually suffering from and what experiences come with these sort of things. Knowing these details is imperative, especially if the true goal is awareness. If you don't know any details, besides that something existing, how aware really are you?

Once you are aware. The details must follow.

Which leads to understanding the symptoms and why someone says or acts the way they do.

Symptoms of these disorders range tremendously as mentioned previously. Even if symptoms are similar in the way they present themselves, the way they are processed, handled, and dealt with range tremendously. So many factors play into this and rarely ever is it a direct example of cause and effect. But most importantly, it starts with the people around you (which I will get to here in a moment).

For me, here are a few symptoms I don't mind sharing that show how widely they could range with people. Early in my childhood they could be things such as: Having the urge (and no desire) to start licking household floors a certain amount of times, to washing my hands till they would bleed profusely, or having irrational thoughts(sometimes about hurting others), counting tile floors, wearing only certain clothing(well past the age this is 'accepted), touching the door knob X amount of times, being severely "over aware" to the point I was creating my own realities, and this is just a few, the list could go on. Things that myself and people around me were blatantly aware of.

So now we have the awareness.

Now action.

As mentioned, it starts with the people around you.

My mother was and always will be my number one supporter. Not knowing in full detail what my disorder entailed, she not only had to be aware, but she chose to take action. She chose to not let this stop me from succeeding and being the best ME I could possibly be. She chose not to make excuses. She chose not to overly medicate me and throw me to the waste side. And with that though, came hours, days, weeks, months and years she dedicated to not only making me aware of my own mind, but to show me your mind is the most powerful tool you have. Every moment her life was revolved around me and working towards bettering my situation, but also, to understand why I thought the way I did, how I thought the way I did, and most importantly, how can I control the way I thought.

This took time, a lot of time, many tears, pain, misunderstanding, confusion, anger, happiness, frustration, effort and more time to get where I am today. But, there is still a long way to go. To this day I still am a work in progress and something I consciously have to think about. This isn't something that goes away. Remember, its physiological. But it can ALWAYS get better, stronger, and more understandable.

Through all of her effort, she refused to allow me or anyone around me to use my disorder as an excuse. Most of the time, teachers, coaches, and people 'in charge' were the only ones that really knew my condition (simply due to it being so misunderstood). Even that was an uphill battle for most to understand though. Not to their fault sometimes, but the conscious effort was not there to understand or simply wrote it off as something unimportant. Fortunately for me, I always had that one person here and there throughout my life that really understood, saw my true potential and invested their time in me.

This is why I am the person you see before you.

Because the ones around me were not only aware, but they took the time to understand to their fullest potential. They gave me a helping hand. They saw something in me I never saw in myself. They took their own time and effort to give to someone who could truly benefit and grow from this.

Not because I was special.

But because I was aware of my situation and was taught to keep pushing.

The push that still is there today....

I recently just got out of a deep depression. This depression probably lasted on and off for the past 3 years. I shut a lot of people out. Forgot the things I learned as I grew older and how to handle my thoughts. Started spiraling out of control again, but now as an adult, as a professional. As someone still trying to maintain that 'image' of being 'normal'. I couldn't give up. But wanted to. So badly. I had enough. I couldn't take anymore. The lows were ever lower now. The problems were no longer the same problems I had as a child, but problems that evolved as I evolved. It seemed as if I could never run fast enough to get ahead of them. I was running out of energy. I was tired. Mentally. I was beat down. I slept or ate my troubles away. I was getting to an all time low. Just now, have I been able to break free from it.

What changed? What happened?

I turned to the ones around me. The ones that have always been there, regardless of anything else, they were always by my side. Mentors, friends, family, relationships, all were key to helping me through this period. Through my entire life. Something I had forgotten for so long. But finally remembered.

Its a constant battle, a battle with yourself to push and fight harder.

I tell you this to show my battle is not over. The details I shared were from my past. But my present faces new challenges. Still to this day, striving to understand more and grow, each and every day. There will be another low. But, it wont be as low as the last time.

Why?

With time, conscious effort and understanding, you can take what you are given, understand it to the VERY best of your ability, and then use that power to your benefit.

With that awareness, it must be put into place.

With that awareness, lead yourself and others to action.

You never know who's life you can touch and change for the better. Even if its your own.