Taking care of your mental and emotional health is just as important as your physical health. When I say mental and emotional health I mean your overall psychological well-being. The two are very different, but are also closely connected. I have come to realize that maintaining stable and mental health is extremely important. Your mental health can determine the way you feel about yourself, the quality of your relationships and your ability to manage your feelings and deal with difficulties.

I encourage everyone to actually be aware of what mental health is and gain knowledge on the depth of mental illnesses. I have seen people treat others differently because they do not realize how important mental health is and they do not acknowledge the fact that mental illnesses are real just because they are not visible. Research has shown that 40 million Americans live with mental health issues. Although most mental illnesses are not easily visible, there should be no division between physical and mental health.

Throughout a year of therapy, years of anxiety and antidepressant medications, I have recognized many significant ideas that I need to remind myself of everyday:

I don’t let my illness define who I am. Accept no one’s definition of your life; define yourself.

It's okay to ask for help. Approximately 1 in every 4 adults in the United States has symptoms of a mental illness, yet many don’t seek the help they need.

It's okay to not be okay.

There’s a future version of me that is proud I was strong enough.

You can stop. Take a breath. Cry if you must.