May is Mental Health Awareness Month

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May is Mental Health Awareness month, and as the month begins to wind down, it's important to keep the awareness in the forefront of our minds. Anywhere from 20 to 40 million people suffer from depression and anxiety in the United States alone, and millions more have recovered, including myself. I battled depression and anxiety throughout my 20's. I was fortunate to have great doctors and therapists who guided me to wellness. While it may often feel like you're the only one that understands your pain and suffering, the truth is that these conditions are unfortunately very common. You are not alone.

This past Saturday, the Annual Sounds of Silence 5K/10K Run/walk event took place around Brightwaters Lakes to bring awareness to pregnancy postpartum depression and anxiety. I was not aware of this event until I took a morning drive and discovered signs placed on different parts of the roadway and on lawns. "Your Story Matters" caught my eye first. I stopped my car and backed up to read it again. I initially thought it was another writer, like myself, who was looking for ideas for a book until I drove further and saw other signs that read, "You Are Not Alone", "Take Care of You", "You Can Do This", "I Believe in You", "Be Kind to Yourself", and "You Make a Difference". Each sign had a name of a family, an individual, or a business on it. Suddenly, I came across a man who was beginning to take the signs down, and I rolled down my window to ask him what this was all about. He told me, and it took on deeper meaning. I'm sorry I missed the main event, but I'm so glad I got there early enough to witness these mantras. It was serendipitous. Take a moment to scroll through some images I've posted below.

Mental Health is as essential as physical health, and awareness is so important so that people can feel comfortable sharing their own story and experience with this troublesome disease. You don't have to have given birth to suffer from depression and anxiety as it grips both men and women. We need to talk about mental health as if it's part of our every-day vernacular. There is no shame in admitting that you are suffering and that you need help. There's plenty of it out there, day and night. 

If you know someone who is experiencing symptoms of depression and anxiety, encourage them to talk about it. Inspire them to share their story with others who may also be suffering. Motivate them to get professional help and to understand that there is a cure. Because like any illness, left untreated, depression and anxiety can be deadly. Life is to be lived, and healing is available for all of us.

Peace and Love,

Skylark

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I am a columnist with Skylark Live Town News (SLTN) and write short, poetic articles geared to the 60 and beyond population. Topics include human interest, nature, general observations, inspiration, music, and events in and around Bay Shore. I also write about restaurants and stores I've been to in the area. You can also watch my first-Monday-of-the-month vlog, “60 and Beyond with Skylark" on my YouTube Channel, Skylark Live, that features my articles from SLTN. Please subscribe to my free STLN newsletter that gets delivered directly to your email each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. To support SLTN, you can make a recurring monthly donation ($5 Friend or $15 Advocate) or a one-time donation of any amount. It's up to you, and it's easy to do on my feed. You can also advertise your business or event here as well. Please follow me on YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, and Linkedin under my brand, Skylark Live. Thank you for your support.