Life
The choice of how to deal with your mental health issues is extremely personal and varied. What works for one person may not work for another. Unfortunately, taking care of your mental health isn't a topic that's often discussed. But, people are taking action to change that on Twitter right now. While you may have started to associate Twitter as the land of Trump, some things that come out of the social media site are incredibly beneficial. Take the trending hashtag #MyTipsForMentalHealth for instance. Filled with users sharing empowering messages to those struggling with mental health issues, as well as explaining how they cope, it's an inspiring display of love and support.
Even more importantly, #MyTipsForMentalHealth creates a way for people to candidly discuss mental health, something that is not done nearly enough. Since you can't see mental health, so many still find ways to wrongly dismiss its existence. Mental health may still face an incredible stigma but the fact that these users took the time to show that you are never alone in your fight could have a life-changing effect.
Movements, such as this hashtag, can also be instrumental in helping people determine that their struggles are something more and thus identify ways to seek treatment. So often, people deal with mental health issues for too long a time without even realizing what's happening. It took me 20 years of panic attacks and anxiety to discover that I have a panic disorder. For years I tore myself apart at how weak I was being in a given situation, hating how I let things get to me. At the worst, I genuinely thought I was going to die while facing a panic attack, having no way to define what it was that I was experiencing.
It's been almost a year to the day since I learned what I was dealing with and went on medication. The person I was then would barely recognize the person I am now, but that doesn't mean every day is a walk in the park. Instead it means I've learned what coping mechanisms are most effective for me and, when my panic disorder acts up, I have the knowledge that I can survive it.
I still have days where I can feel each piece of negativity right on the edge of my consciousness, and I do everything I can to fight back against it. Luckily resources and conversations around mental health are becoming increasingly common, just as we see through #MyTipsForMentalHealth. "Prioritizing your own mental health is finally starting to come out of the closet as a way to experience greater success, more friendships, stronger relationships and promote vitality," Dorian Crawford, PsyD tells Bustle. "When we understand what is going on inside, we can make choices and changes that will be noticeable on the outside. If we do not take care of ourselves, we cannot expect to be strong for others when they need us."
If you are struggling with your mental health or want to learn how to better be there for those that are, the best step to take is educating yourself on the various ways to help the situation. Read on for the most inspiring #MyTipsForMentalHealth tweets for advice to on how to work towards better mental health.
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Help Is Waiting For You
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Mental Health Matters As Much As Physical
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Letting Go Is An Act Of Strength
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Do What You Need To Do
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Lay Back And Stare At The Stars For Awhile
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Getting Help Is Never Weak
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Just Log Off For A Bit
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You're Perfect Just The Way You Are
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You Deserve The Best Life
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People Do Want To Help
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Take The Time To Check In With Yourself
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Avoid Situations That Harm You
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There Is Light In Your Future
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You Are Living A Life Worth Living
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You Are Never Alone In This
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Try Not To Feed The Negativity
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Say As Much As You Can
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Step Back From What Stresses You
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Never Allow Anyone To Invalidate You
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In And Out The Breath Goes
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Things Can Get Better
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Know What You're Dealing With
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Figure Out What Works For You
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A Bad Day Doesn't Equal A Bad Life
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Mental Health Needs To Be Discussed
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You Are Stronger Than This
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Nothing Will Happen Overnight
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Celebrate Your Victories
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It May Not Be Seen, But It's Still There
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Seriously, Just Don't Do It
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Pick Good People To Surround Yourself With
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Be Conscious Of Your Thoughts
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None Of This Is Your Fault
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Analyze Where Your Thoughts Are Coming From
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It's Amazing What Sleep Can Do
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Acknowledge What You're Grateful For
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Try Not To Isolate Yourself
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It's OK To Only Save Yourself
The final tweet reminds me of the quote attributed to an anthro professor that circles around, "You all have a little bit of 'I want to save the world' in you, that's why you're here, in college. I want you to know it's OK if you only save one person, and it's OK if that person is you.' A huge part of mental health care is being aware of your needs. It's OK to take the time to focus on how to make yourself feel better.
If you are struggling with mental health issues please know that you are never alone in your fight. There are so many people out there who want to support you and ensure that things get better. Things can get better, never forget that.
If you are having suicidal thoughts please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.