So often in my work, I meet people struggling with depression, anxiety, substance use disorders, trauma and eating disorders. People come to our hospital looking for a way to relieve themselves of the pain they are feeling. They come seeking answers to the problems that have plagued them for days, weeks, sometimes years. I wish I had all the answers. Sadly, I do not.

The other night, I received a phone call from a young woman in the throes of depression stemming from relationship and employment issues. She called seeking answers to her situation. I listened to her story with concern and very much wished I could simply tell her what to do about what was going on in her life. But that is not my role.

It is our job as therapists, counselors and crisis workers to help you get the care you need and to help you find the answers to your problems. Certainly, there are times when I can offer advice if you ask it of me. I can tell you what I might do in a similar situation, but our stories, our paths, our concerns are different. I cannot tell you what might best work for you, but I can help you determine what might. I do not have the answers to your problems, but I can help you find them … they are inside you.

Helping you find the answers to your problems helps you gain a sense of empowerment. I assure you, if you work with your counselor, therapist or psychiatrist regularly and share all your concerns and hopes for the future, you can find the answers to what ails you. This works best if you are brutally honest not just with your counselor, but also with yourself. What do you truly want for your future? We can help you determine that.

Deep down inside, you know what your truth is. Sometimes admitting to yourself that your truth is different from the life you currently are living is painfully difficult. Accepting that you need to make some changes to find a way to live your truth is the first step in making your way from mental illness to mental wellness. Let your therapist or counselor help you find what your truth is.

I have said it before and I will say it again, I wish I had a magic wand to wave away your pain. I do not. Your therapist or counselor does not have all the answers to your problems, but you do. They are inside you. If you are willing to really work with your mental health professional to find the answers to your problems, you will be rewarded. Deep down, you know what you need to do. The work will not be easy and likely will take time, but it is so worth it. Are you ready to start the search for your truth, for your answers? Are you ready to work toward living the life you were meant to live? You deserve to live a life free of pain, to live a life that brings you happiness. You deserve to life your best life.