Don't Forget To Put Yourself First | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post

Don't Forget To Put Yourself First

You are the number-one priority!

19
Don't Forget To Put Yourself First
Unsplash

To those reading this, you're probably wondered what happened. The amount of articles posted significantly dropped to become nonexistent. I stopped posting on social media, and I also decreased the amount of time I spent on social networks. From an outsider's point-of-view, it would seem as if I disappeared completely.

I forgot to put myself first.

I got swept up in my priorities: school and work. It is midterm season after all, isn't that normal? Yes, it is completely normal to lock yourself in your room or the library, study, and have no social life. But, there is a catch to this seemingly normal story: I became too wrapped up. I felt as if I was being pulled into multiple directions; stretched so far to the point of breaking.

Then, I broke.

Being a senior in college balancing academics, work, social relationships, as well as staying healthy by exercising and eating well is not as easy as it sounds. I've always been busy; it's just how I operate. I thought, "This is normal. I am always one to be running around like a chicken with its head cut off. I will be fine." Unfortunately, it caught up to me.

The fear of the future set in. The pressures of accelerated nursing school expectations started caving in when I would be studying for exams. I started to doubt my ability to succeed. "What if I do poorly on this exam?" "I'm not going to get into nursing school no matter how hard I try," "My GPA is never going to be good enough," "I'm stuck and I don't know how to fix it," "I feel like I'm not eating and exercising enough." These are only a sample of negative thoughts dancing in my head.

The thoughts controlled my ability to breathe. I lost it. Every breath felt short. I was deprived. The thoughts kept me up at night, so I couldn't sleep. Yet during the day, I felt as if I was dragging through quicksand because of how fatigued I would be. I kept going because I had to, not because I had a choice.

When I had 3 exams in 24 hours, my body weight was consumed in caffeine and I ran on little sleep. I ate little, only enough to get by. "You can't eat just yet; you've got to be able to retain every little piece of information first," my mind would tell me. Application requirements and fear of being wait-listed was my appetite suppressant.

Weeks and weeks rolled by. I felt empty and consumed by everything. I was continually tense, and relaxation made me feel guilty. "I'm getting help, I'm not going to sink this time," I told myself. I was determined to keep myself afloat. I took it day-by-day, hour-by-hour, second-by-second.

It was a hard act having to mask the chaos inside by keeping my mouth shut. When someone would ask, "How are you?" I would say, "I'm busy, but I am okay." Why? I don't want people to worry about me. I know that the loved ones in my life have their own struggles and tasks to attend to. The last thing I wanted was to be a burden, so I decided to stay silent.

Staying silent and barely hanging on did not help me: it hurt me.

It set me back in a tailspin. I was delirious. It was unbearable. The anxiety was eating me alive. I was determined to not let myself sink again. So, I swallowed my pride and asked for more help.

Now, I know that everything will be okay eventually. A plan is set in place so that my quality-of-life improves. It includes ways to silence the pestering, annoying voices inside my head that nip at me. It will help things feel less debilitating. I will get my autonomy, sleep, and breathing back.

The moral of the story is this: I forgot to put myself first. I let my own thoughts get the best of me.

Don't forget to put yourself first. It's important. Mental health matters. It can affect every aspect of your life, whether you realize it or not. It's okay to not be okay, but it's not okay to be battling it alone. Know you're not in this fight alone. It is completely normal to have to seek therapy, take medication, or use other forms of mental health treatment.

Don't let the stigma around mental illness prevent you from seeking assistance. Everyone's got their own demons at the end of the day, some are just better at masking it than others, or they are in complete denial of them.

Take care of you, for you.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

4161
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

450452
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

22214
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Moana's Top 10 Life Tips

"Moana" is filled with life lessons that involve far more than finding true love as many other Disney movies do.

45128
Animated image of a woman with long dark hair and tattoos
StableDiffusion

1. It's easy to be fooled by shiny things.

Digital image of shiny gemstones in cased in gold. shiny things StableDiffusion

Tamatoa created a liar filled with shiny things simply for the purpose of tricking fish to enter and become his food. He too experiences a lesson in how easy it is to be tricked by shiny things when Moana distracts him by covering herself in glowing algae so Maui can grab his hook.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments