Opening Up: My Journey Towards Mental Wellness
As we usher in Mental Health Month, I find it both necessary and healing to share parts of my own journey through the maze of mental health challenges that all contributed to my mental wellness. This is not just my story, but a beacon for those who may find themselves in the shadows, looking for a flicker of hope.
My battles with mental health began in the echoing halls of a boarding school, where the weight of undiagnosed anxiety and profound sadness pushed me to the brink. I remember collecting discarded medication, a desperate attempt to find an escape from the unbearable pain. Yet, it was during a routine church service that a spark of hope ignited within me, compelling me to discard the pills and choose life.
Despite the struggles that continued to shadow my school years, I found solace in the early morning jogs, the quiet moments when I could outrun my darkness. However, it was not until university, under the stress of a demanding course, that the true extent of my struggles was acknowledged. Thanks to my father’s intervention, I was taken to a psychiatrist who equipped me with the understanding and tools I needed to begin healing from my traumas.
This pivotal experience was transformative, turning my pain into a passionate pursuit of knowledge in psychology. I graduated cum laude and am now a licensed wellness counsellor, dedicated to guiding others through their healing journeys.
Today, my life is a tapestry of techniques that I weave together to maintain my mental health—meditation, yoga, collecting teas, writing, community work, and indulging in the simple pleasures of nature walks and long warm baths. Each tool adds strength to my daily battle for wellness.
In sharing this, my hope is that Rami's Mental Health Journal becomes more than just a space for education—it becomes a community where we share, heal, and grow together. Throughout this month, we will explore various mental health disorders, not just to understand them, but to equip ourselves with knowledge and compassion.
You are not alone in this journey. Each story shared, each struggle revealed, brings us closer to a world where mental health is not a stigma, but a shared human experience. Let us walk this path of awareness together, supporting each other every step of the way.