May has been and continues to be Mental Health Awareness Month in the United States and abroad. Currently in the United States nearly one in five people live with mental illness at any given time. The COVID-19 pandemic has left many people struggling with depression, anxiety and trauma responses. Know that it is okay to struggle and it also is okay to seek out a mental health professional to process your feelings.

Living with mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety can leave one feeling isolated and alone, unsure of themselves and the world around them. Seeking help can mean the difference between feeling as though you are simply existing and living a life with meaning. I myself made the journey from mental illness to mental wellness and continue to tend to my mental health on a daily basis. I long had struggled with anorexia, bipolar disorder and anxiety. It finally dawned on me one day while in the hospital being treated for bipolar disorder that I did not have to play victim to my mental health concerns. I realized that the thing that needed to change was me, not the world around me and so took steps to take charge of my mental health.

Along my mental health journey and now in my career as a social worker, I have come to glean some lessons that you might find helpful. Here are some of the things I have learned:

• Your worth as a human being is not determined by the things you own, the shape of your body or the number on a scale.

• “No” is a complete sentence and you have the right to say that without explanation.

• You are worthy of love and belonging simply because you are human. You do not have to hustle to earn your worth.

• It is okay to walk away from anyone who does not add to your life.

• It takes far more courage to ask for help than it does to suffer in silence.

• There are people who care and it is okay to reach out when you need help.

• If you constantly strive for perfection, you likely more than not will always find yourself disappointed. Nothing is perfect. There is beauty in your imperfections.

• It is difficult to offer compassion to others if you cannot offer yourself compassion. Be kind and gentle with yourself and know that you are doing the best you can with what you have right now.

• Self-care is not selfish. You cannot pour from an empty cup. Take care of yourself so that you can be better able to take care of those you love.

• You are responsible for your own happiness. If you want a better life, make better choices.

Taking charge of your mental health means that you may have to course-correct to change long-held beliefs that affect the way you think about yourself and the world around you. You may have to dig deep and it may be uncomfortable. It takes courage to change but it is so worth it. You deserve to live a happy, healthy life. What steps can you take to improve your mental health? Are you ready to be the victor of your life instead of the victim?

~ Karri Christiansen, MSW, LSW, CADC, CCTP