I have always believed that health and well-being are the most important factors in a person's life. So, I have never quite understood why mental health makes people so uncomfortable. Perhaps it's the fear of the unknown or treating illnesses that we can't physically see. Whatever the reason, the idea that mental health shouldn't be talked about has never sat well with me.

Why is it that we can talk about our gallstones, migraines, or colonoscopies but not our depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorders? Why are we so comfortable saying we had to go to a doctor's appointment, but not that we had to go therapy? So many people are aware of the symptoms of various infections, but not the symptoms of depression. It's so sad that we can ask, "How are you feeling?" when we know someone is sick and battling a cold, but we don't ask someone struggling with trauma or depression how they are holding up.

Having a mental illness is nothing to be ashamed of. Talking about your struggles and your mental health is courageous, and an act that should be commended. True strength lies in admitting when you need help and doing everything you can to help yourself make it through day after day and get back on your feet. It's difficult living with a mental illness. It's even more difficult when those who suffer feel like they have no one to talk to about their struggles, or spend everyday living in an environment where they are made to feel like they cannot talk about their condition without feeling like they are inferior to those who cannot even begin to comprehend the stress of living with a mental illness.

I have personally suffered from depression, PTSD, and adjustment disorder. I have been suffering since high school, and for many years, I struggled alone. I didn't know who to talk to or what to even do. In a South Asian household, mental health was a far-fetched notion that was never to be spoken about. I spent days struggling to get my school work done, barely being able to focus on studying for tests; I suffered from sleepless nights, flashbacks, nightmares, and terrible panic attacks. Every night, I would lay there feeling helpless and hopeless. Every morning, I would wake up, force a smile on my face, and pretend everything was fine and that I was like every other person. I became very self-destructive and very lost. I wish there were more people in my life who weren't scared to ask how I was dealing with my mental illnesses, or even noticed that I was struggling, but unfortunately, there weren't. Eventually in college, I found the help I needed, and I still continue to go to therapy and get the help I need. The most important thing is that I am not embarrassed by my "weakness." In fact, I have found unbelievable strength in speaking out about the mental illnesses I battle every day, which has made me stronger in every way.

I hope that in the future, we as humans become more understanding and encouraging towards those who fight incredibly tough battles in their minds and lives every second of every day. Empathy is something many of us lack, but it is a quality that is very crucial in breaking the stigma that revolves around mental illness. For being able to develop that quality, I can only thank my mental illnesses. For anyone out there who is battling an illness, it's ok to be scared and feel lost, but don't be afraid to ask for help and talk about your struggles. You deserve to have the support you need, and most importantly, to get the help you need to work on your mental health. Do no let anyone or anything tell you that having a mental illness makes you weak and will hold you back; the possibilities are endless and you are a warrior fighting to make your mental health a priority. Ask for help, speak out about your struggles, and tackle your mental illness!