Being in a psychiatric emergency is probably the worst feeling in this world. It is terrifying and heart wrenching and the feeling of being alone is overwhelming. It is as if your entire world is crumbling faster than you can grasp. You feel as if you are alone because no one understands and it is just you in a whirlwind of emotions and feelings all at once that are to much for a single person to handle by themselves. Of course there are people supporting you whether you realize or not, and there are people there that will do anything in their power to at least try to help you but in that moment it is you and your mind battling each other.
But when you are put into a place you have to be put in, to help yourself, you are alone in the sense that when you are in there, it is just you. You cannot have any friends or family with you at all times. This is you and the strength you have and the willingness to get better. You are in that room with just yourself and many others who you don’t know. So even though there are many ways in which you are alone, you truly are not. The people in that room are in the same situation you are and understand you more than anyone on the outside in many cases, and mine was one of those. The people I met inside that room taught me more in 6 hours of my life than any doctor or any other person ever has in my entire life. One man in particular opened my eyes and made me realize things that people have tried to tell me before, but coming from a person in a similar situation, in the same place as me, I heard it in a different way. I actually heard him. It all clicked inside my head because I felt a connection to him that I never felt with anyone else before because we were both in a psych ward in a psychiatric emergency and he genuinely, and quite literally, knew what I was going through. The lessons I learned that night are ones that I will carry with me forever and I hope to reach others with the lessons I learned from that one single man who was put in my life for a reason, even if it was for just a few hours of my entire existence. The things that he said to me, the advice, the compliments, the lessons, changed my life forever and meant more to me than I could ever describe. Just a few simple words impacted my life forever.
1. Don’t sweat the small shit.
Don’t let the little things in life get you down. Don’t let them bring you down and get to you. Although sometimes the little things mean the most, don’t let them get to you.
2. Just because you're big, doesn't mean your tough.
This was something I really needed to hear because of my situation. Just because you may physically be big, does not determine the power you have. It does not mean you are very tough. Everyone has a side that allows them to be not so tough at times. Don’t let anyone intimidate you or have any power over you to hurt you in any way. Size does not mean toughness.
3. The only person that matters in this world is you, no one else.
YOU matter. Put yourself first. Help yourself. Do what YOU want. At the end of the day, you are the only one that truly matters in YOUR life. People you love do matter but you always, always come first. Love yourself and respect yourself and care for yourself no matter what. This one was SO important to me.
4. If you want something, you put your mind to it and no one gets in between that.
Do not let anyone get in your way. You want something? You get it. You fight for it. You work for it. No matter what anyone says, no matter what anyone does, no matter if people try to stop you or pull you down and say you cant get it, your prove them wrong. You prove them SO wrong. Keep going. Get what you want no matter what it takes.
5. “You have so much going for you.”
You do. You have more going for you than you realize. No matter how bleak it may be now, and no matter how much you want to give up, you have more going for you than you ever know.
6. “She’s beautiful.”
When I was told this, this was in response to someone saying to the man, “You see that smile? We gotta keep that on her face”. His response was this. My smile grew much bigger in that moment because it was a compliment that meant the world to me. I was most definitely at my worst in that time, but someone saw me for who I am and still said I was beautiful even though they had just met me. YOU are beautiful. Whoever is reading this you are beautiful. I promise you. You are so beautiful.
7. “You’re in college, have fun.”
For all my fellow students, have fun. You get this experience once and are so incredibly lucky to be in college right now. Don't take it for granted. Have fun, make crazy choices, stay out late, skip class once in a while, make new friends, drink a little to much, and live for the nights you can’t remember with the people you will never forget. Find yourself in college. This is the time to explore your life and be who you want to be. Don’t let small things get to you and ruin your life because in 4 years, these problems wont matter.
These words that he said to me, every word, came clearer to me and touched me deeper and had more meaning that I could ever describe. I cannot thank this person enough for the advice he gave me and the lessons I learned that night. I carry these words with me every day and will for the rest of my life. The brightest and most influential lessons are gained in places you would never expect, at times you would never expect. It comes when you aren't looking and when you are least expecting it, but these are the times when it is needed the most. So to anyone who is struggling, I hope I am this person in your case, that this man was in mine. I hope that you listen to this advice, and hear the compliments as if I am saying them to you. I hope that I can help you just as much, and more, as this person helped me.
If you or someone you know is in distress or a psychiatric emergency, help is out there. Choose help. Choose life. Choose you.
Call The National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255
Or call your local Hospital or Crisis Center.
