I'm back and wiser than ever.. I think

I don’t pretend to know everything about mental health. There are plenty of disorders/conditions that I know NOTHING about.

I admit that I sometimes fail to recognize how my actions and words might affect someone else’s mental health.

I try very hard to practice what I preach, but it’s very easy for my pride and ego to get in the way. I’m stubborn and strong-willed, and at times these qualities work in my favor and at other times they don’t. But all of this is part of being human.

Every person on this earth is unique, which means that his/her mental health is also individual. Progress time, recovery period, and control of mental illness depend on the person experiencing such illness. No one has the right to discredit another’s progress by throwing around stigma and misconception. It IS possible to make a lot of progress in a short amount of time, and it ISN’T naïve to think otherwise -- I can personally attest to this statement.

Everyone hits rock bottom at some point in life. Support one another and refrain from negative, stigma filled vernacular. I promise to try and do so as well.

These past couple of months proved to challenge my patience, temperament, and communication skills. Above all, my empathy, the quality I constantly pride myself on possessing, has been challenged the most. But my lack-thereof in certain situations can be contributed to the actions and words of the other party. Other times, it's just me being difficult.

When we get into arguments with a family member, a friend, or significant other, we often fail to consider the opposing side’s opinions and feelings. This failure of recognition is seen everywhere – take our current political climate, for example. Democrats refuse to hear out Republicans and vise versa. Why? Because there is a sense of superiority for one’s ideals. Sure, that statement goes unsaid since the superiority complex has been around for ages, but that’s beside the point.

The point is that we could all benefit from listening to one another. Empathy, empathy, empathy. Its human nature to act out of emotion, but as I once saw in some inspirational post on Instagram, “Don’t let temporary emotions make permanent decisions”.

It is a big thing for me to admit that I have been wrong in my assumptions. So here I am, admitting it. If I can do it, so can you.

And as always, have a lovely evening.