This is something that I have always had trouble with. Probably because of the way I was raised, “men are supposed to be tough” or so my father taught me. I think we all know I feel about my father…none of it pleasant. What I am talking about is being not okay. What does this mean? Well, simply put, it means that you are struggling. With your mental health, physical health, career, anything really. It just means that at this moment in time, you’re not okay.

There is a very large stigma surrounding this descriptor. Like we are supposed to keep all our worries and troubles to ourselves. Even if we, as human beings, could do that, it would result in a mental illness (if you didn’t have one already). So obviously, it’s not humanly possible to keep everything bottled up inside, nor is it healthy. (Quick side note: I was born in ’94, making me 25 this month) Yet, that’s the way that the generation before me was raised, bottle it up, like that solves all life’s problems. Well, why would they do something so detrimental to themselves? I can hear you asking. The answer is simple…they just didn’t know any other way. That’s just the way that things were done in the “olden” times (pre-millennials). I personally think that’s the reason millennials have such a mental health epidemic. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not blaming the older generations, nor am I saying they all are oblivious to mental issues, my entire treatment team is much older than me. I am saying, and you can quote me, they just ignored a social problem because of the minority of mental illness sufferers that were either bad people, or needed constant care (that was basically locking them in an asylum for life). Either that, or there wasn’t enough money to be made off the mentally ill until science caught up. One of those two is definetly the reason that the mentally ill were a minority.

So, now all of a sudden there is this boom of mental illness, right? Wrong. Mental illness was always there, just mostly ignored when possible. Now, us millennials, are like “hey that’s messed up dude!” So we are beginning to change things, and the older gens are suddenly like “oh that’s why I feel so empty all the time, I’m depressed?!” Now seeing a therapist is something I recommend for even “healthy” people. Talking about your issues is probably the best way to start solving them. Back “in the day” seeing a therapist made you look weak, silly, and crazy. Especially if you saw a psychiatrist.

So what am I so long-windedly getting at? It is perfectly fine to feel sad, angry, empty, lonely, any emotion, so long as you don’t inflict pain on other people. It’s okay to be not okay! It is something that everyone in the mental health field can attest to. The first part of fixing a problem, is admitting that it’s a problem that needs to be fixed! You’re human! Human beings have emotions, not all are pleasant! Some downright suck! We, and by we I mean people who are open with mental health, are trying to eliminate the bias and stigma surrounding mental health. It is certainly a long road ahead, but at least we are progressing!

So if you are feeling like you are not living life to its full potential, seek professional help. There’s nothing wrong with it, seeing a therapist doesn’t mean you’re mentally ill. Though there’s nothing wrong with being mentally ill. Life is a very long journey, with many times where everything seems against you. There is nothing wrong with asking for help, we are social creatures after all. In the end, asking for help will ultimately improve your life, and make the journey a little easier. The one thing that has certainly changed in the past few decades, is that there are millions of people eager to give a helping hand where they can, so all you have to do is ask.

From my mind to yours, Alan Wolfgang, signing off.