So often, people living with mental illness and substance use disorder feel they need to hide their selves from people. They live in the shadows. They isolate themselves from friends and loved ones so those people cannot see them while they suffer. Many times, people isolate because they fear those closest to them will not understand what they are going through or will not like them when they are feeling low.

What would happen if instead of isolating, we told our loved ones that we are in a bad place, that we need help, that we are living with depression or anxiety or addiction? What if we laid our cards on the table and said, “Hey, this is who I am and I need help?” We fear that the response would be negative, that we would be at best misunderstood and at worst shunned by those we love.

More likely than not, though, our loved ones will ask what they can do to help. Those who love you want to see you feel better and get healthy. Those who love you want to see you find your way to recovery. It is okay to ask for help. It is okay to admit you cannot do it all alone.

Recovery is about becoming the person you always were meant to be. Your loved ones want to see you become that person. Recovery starts with accepting yourself for who you are in this moment. Recovery starts with you fearlessly being yourself and admitting you need help in becoming who you are meant to be. Recovery starts with you loving yourself enough to ask for assistance.

Can you do that? Can you be yourself fearlessly so that you can take the first step toward recovery? Doing so requires that you step outside your comfort zone. Yes, it will be scary. Yes, it will take effort. But you so deserve it. You deserve a better life. You deserve happiness and health. You deserve to become the person you always were meant to be.