6. Having Depression When Your Spouse Is In The Army Is A Harsh Reality | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Health and Wellness

9 Vulnerable Stories That Were Shared This World Mental Health Day

Everyone has a mental health experience. These creators bravely shared their stories with us.

10745
9 Vulnerable Stories That Were Shared This World Mental Health Day

Everyone has a mental health story. Whether it's a story that's shared publicly or privately, it's something that has the ability to make a big impact in someone's life. For many, these mental health stories are ongoing, ever-changing in how they play a part in an individual's life.

Odyssey believes in the community that can be formed when these stories are shared. As October 10 was World Mental Health Day, many of our creators took the opportunity to speak out about their personal struggles with mental illnesses.

1. I Was Diagnosed With ADHD At 24 Year Old — I Was Right When I Thought Something Was Wrong

As an adult who'd seen others diagnosed with ADHD, this creator shares how a later diagnosis caused her to wonder what could have been done if things were recognized earlier. ADHD is largely undiagnosed in females, but that doesn't mean it's impossible to realize. Once a diagnosis is received, you can take one step at a time to gain positive, helpful coping mechanisms, no matter what stage of life you're in.

2. I'm Not The Only One Who's Experiencing Social Anxiety For The First Time

College students, amidst studying for midterms, are having to adapt to 2020's "new normal," which largely consists of not doing things they'd normally do — mainly anything related to social life. This creator shares how that isn't just boring, but it's actually been detrimental to her mental wellness. The prolonged isolation has made an impact on how she now interacts with others — she knows this isn't a problem she's facing alone, but that doesn't make the loneliness go away.

SEE ALSO:Social Anxiety Isn't Just Being Nervous, It Impacts Me Every Single Day

3. The Voices In My Head Consistently Give Me Hell, But I'm Learning To Work Through It

Everyone's stream of consciousness has the ability to wreak havoc on their life. This creator shares how her thoughts and insecurities have overwhelmed her, causing her restlessness and harmful self-consciousness.

4. What You Need To Know About Sexual Assault, From Someone Who's Been There

After growing tired of others telling her how she should feel, this creator took her sexual assault story and told it to the world, in hopes of others recognizing that they are not defined by what happened to them. She bravely shares her experience and the healing that had to take place afterward.

5. I Thought OCD Ruined My Life, But Now I've Changed For The Better

Mental illnesses are not impossible to overcome and this creator makes that very clear as she recounts her journey with OCD. From a beginning full of panic attacks and fear to a hopeful ending of strength and resilience, progress was clearly made. The OCD is not gone, but this creator will be the first to tell you that it didn't win.

SEE ALSO:You've Got To Stop Saying, 'I'm So OCD,' When You're Really Just Organized

6. Having Depression When Your Spouse Is In The Army Is A Harsh Reality

This creator shares how certain circumstances (such as a deployed husband) can set off certain mental health triggers. She honestly recalls how her depression has shifted based on location, scenario, and phase of life — really, anything can be a help or hindrance to mental illnesses.

7. 10 Things I've Done For My Mental Health Since Last Year's World Mental Health Day

Growth and progress is something to be celebrated, and that's exactly what this creator is doing! It's true that a lot can happen in a year. With some simple adjustments, healthy habits, and strong support system, your mental health does not have to stay where it is forever. It's hard work, but moves can be made.

8. Everyone Should Go To Therapy At Least Once, Even If You're Feeling Great

The stigma behind going to therapy is slowly, but surely, shrinking, especially as more people who have benefited from it speak out about their experience. This creator discusses how therapy has made a positive impact on her life, from the moment she started going at 14 years old.

9. Mental Illness Is Messy, And It Affects Everyone Differently

This creator's message rings simple and true: "On this World Mental Health Day, I hope you know that mental illness is messy, it's not clear cut, planned out, or a revised thing. It affects you differently every time it makes its return. It hits you at the most random times. And it's a constant, life-long journey."

No matter where you are in your mental health journey, there are people who understand what you're going through. While your story is uniquely yours, there is no shortage of people who have felt the weight of mental health in their own lives.

If you have a mental health story you'd like to share, please email Odyssey's Health and Wellness Editor at lily.moe@theodysseyonline.com.

Report this Content
campus
CampusExplorer

New year, new semester, not the same old thing. This semester will be a semester to redeem all the mistakes made in the previous five months.

1. I will wake up (sorta) on time for class.

Let's face it, last semester you woke up with enough time to brush your teeth and get to class and even then you were about 10 minutes late and rollin' in with some pretty unfortunate bed head. This semester we will set our alarms, wake up with time to get ready, and get to class on time!

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

The 5 Painfully True Stages Of Camping Out At The Library

For those long nights that turn into mornings when the struggle is real.

1318
woman reading a book while sitting on black leather 3-seat couch
Photo by Seven Shooter on Unsplash

And so it begins.

1. Walk in motivated and ready to rock

Camping out at the library is not for the faint of heart. You need to go in as a warrior. You usually have brought supplies (laptop, chargers, and textbooks) and sustenance (water, snacks, and blanket/sweatpants) since the battle will be for an undetermined length of time. Perhaps it is one assignment or perhaps it's four. You are motivated and prepared; you don’t doubt the assignment(s) will take time, but you know it couldn’t be that long.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

The 14 Stages Of The Last Week Of Class

You need sleep, but also have 13 things due in the span of 4 days.

894
black marker on notebook

December... it's full of finals, due dates, Mariah Carey, and the holidays. It's the worst time of the year, but the best because after finals, you get to not think about classes for a month and catch up on all the sleep you lost throughout the semester. But what's worse than finals week is the last week of classes, when all the due dates you've put off can no longer be put off anymore.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 20 Thoughts College Students Have During Finals

The ultimate list and gif guide to a college student's brain during finals.

169
winter

Thanksgiving break is over and Christmas is just around the corner and that means, for most college students, one hellish thing — finals week. It's the one time of year in which the library becomes over populated and mental breakdowns are most frequent. There is no way to avoid it or a cure for the pain that it brings. All we can do is hunker down with our books, order some Dominos, and pray that it will all be over soon. Luckily, we are not alone in this suffering. To prove it, here are just a few of the many deranged thoughts that go through a college student's mind during finals week.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

28 Daily Thoughts of College Students

"I want to thank Google, Wikipedia, and whoever else invented copy and paste. Thank you."

1548
group of people sitting on bench near trees duting daytime

I know every college student has daily thoughts throughout their day. Whether you're walking on campus or attending class, we always have thoughts running a mile a minute through our heads. We may be wondering why we even showed up to class because we'd rather be sleeping, or when the professor announces that we have a test and you have an immediate panic attack.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments