As a social worker who herself has risen from the ashes of severe depression, anxiety and a manic episode that lasted 18 months and has been in recovery for almost eight years, I feel it is my duty to instill hope in those who have none. Indeed, that is why I went into this business.

When you are living with profound depression, debilitating anxiety and/or substance use disorder it certainly can feel like there is absolutely no hope that you can ever get better, that you can ever live a life free of mental illness or drug use. But, I promise you, there is hope. Every day offers you a chance to find your way to recovery, a chance that things will get better. But what does “better” mean? Certainly it means something different for everyone who lives with mental illness and/or substance use disorder. Perhaps “better” for you means getting out of bed today and getting yourself into the shower, dressed and to work. Perhaps “better” for you means one more day without your drug of choice. Perhaps “better” for you means you get outside for a walk or a run or a bike ride. Science tells us that as few as 30 minutes in nature helps release those endorphins we have talked about before, the feel-good chemicals in your brain that help you feel better. Perhaps “better” for you means you go to bed with the thought that maybe tomorrow will be better. That is what hope is.

Hope is that little voice inside you that says, “I’ll try again tomorrow.” Hope is that little voice inside you that says, “Tomorrow will be better.” When you live with mental illness and/or substance use disorder life can feel hopeless. We want to feel better now, but we are not sure how to get to “better.” Sometimes having hope means taking even just one small step toward mental wellness. What is one small thing you can to do today to improve your mental health? What can you do today that will make your tomorrow better?

Obviously, we cannot just hope ourselves well. We have to be willing to do the work of recovery to get well and to stay well. For most people living with mental illness and substance use, recovery does not just happen over night. Recovery happens when we take the steps necessary to make ourselves well. Recovery is a lifelong process. What can you do today to move from illness to wellness? What are you willing to do to engage in a healthier life? Sustained recovery is found when we practice hope on a daily basis, when we become hope warriors. What can you do today to embrace hope?