There was once a time when seeing a therapist was only for “crazy people.” That’s where a lot of the stigma against seeking mental health comes from. As a matter of fact, there was once a time when homosexuality was a diagnosable mental illness – Things change in the field and in the world! And thank goodness they do. Nowadays people are more open about their mental health. Here are two personal stories I witnessed with my own eyes:
1: In the streets of Amsterdam – So anybody that knows me personally knows that I love traveling. In May 2018, I was in Amsterdam for about 1 week. Want to know what I love about this city? If you’re not hurting anyone, almost anything is accepted. Yes most people think that’s a reference to certain liberal laws, but there is so much more culture to enjoy than just the nightlife. I took a short bike ride from my hotel to a nearby burger takeout spot. While I was waiting for my order, I overheard two adult men having a conversation…very openly and very publicly. One of the gentlemen reported having a difficult time with his girlfriend who he was unsure if he should continue his relationship with. As the conversation continued, it evolved into a discussion about his constant struggle with anxiety and mild feelings of depression. The other gentleman’s response was simple, but so beautiful that I still remember it vividly: “I’m always here for you, man, but there are professionals trained to help with this kind of stuff. I used to see one, it helped a lot.” Seems like a natural response, right? But adult men don’t usually support each other like that, especially not in a way where they suggest therapy, and especially not in public for everyone to hear. It was powerful for me, as a therapist, to hear in public.
2: In my own home – I had a few friends over one day and two of the girls that were over accidentally stumbled over realizing that they had something in common: They both saw the same therapist. When they realized, they seemingly celebrated and started sharing stories about their experiences with the therapist. They even went on to include other people in the conversation and share the coincidence of the story. Again, very publicly and shamelessly. Watching this really stuck with me and I actually encourage these types of conversations because it normalizes the field, it normalizes mental health issues, and it normalizes asking for help and seeking professional treatment.
Not convinced yet? Still think that it’s something to be ashamed of? Still think it’s an acceptance of defeat? Check out these popular and successful celebrities who are publically speaking about their mental health experiences and diagnoses:
- Adele suffered Postpartum Depression
- Ryan Reynolds and Emma Stone both struggle with Anxiety
- Miley Cyrus and Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson report lifetime experiences with symptoms of Depression
- Recently Demi Lovato had a very public relapse with drugs. Her battle continues, and fortunately so will her support. Here’s a quote she made a few years back about mental illness in general: “I think it’s important that people no longer look at mental illness as something taboo to talk about…It’s something extremely common, one in five adults has mental illness”
There are SO many more – these are very well known and accomplished individuals. If they’re doing so well, having mental illness obviously isn’t “defeat.” And if they’re this open about it, the pop-culture is actually newly encouraging us all to be more open because that’s how we get the most people the help they need. If you’re one of those people, then I implore you to get the support you deserve! If you know people who need help, then I implore you to encourage and support them because they may never ask for help if they don’t already feel confident that they’ll be accepted. We’re all on the same team, we’re all working together, and we definitely can’t do it without each other!