by Henry, Age 16
Listen to the audio version of "My Story" here!
Before the pandemic, I’d say that my mental health was very stable, and this was most likely due to me not having the time necessary to really reflect on myself. However, like most, quarantine really took a toll on me and the social isolation created new insecurities and conflicts within myself that I was not prepared to face. The issues greatly overwhelmed me and began to affect my relationships with others, as I began to distance myself from friends and family.
I felt like I was alone with my struggles, and since I never really had to talk about serious things with friends or family before, I didn’t know how to now. I wanted someone in my life who could listen to me and my problems without judging me, who could provide insightful and useful advice on how to work on said conflicts, and most importantly, someone who could help me better understand where in myself it all stemmed from. Therapy was the answer for this.
Although I knew that I needed professional help and my parents would be accepting of it, modern day stigmas related to mental health, especially for guys, deterred me significantly from talking to my parents about seeking help. It’s very intimidating to tell your parents that everything isn’t ok, and you know from then on they’ll be watching over your back, which, although nice at times, can be a bit invasive when you want to keep your things to yourself.
Therapy helped, a lot. With the help of my therapist, I was able to notice patterns in my behaviors and connect them to more general issues I needed to work on. I was also able to get unbiased opinions on my conflicts, and create solutions for them. Having a professional who will just listen to you and offer strategies is extremely helpful and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who feels they want to improve their mental health.
I feel a lot more comfortable with myself now. I understand who I am, why I feel certain ways, and how to work on different issues. I am much closer to my friends and family as well. Obviously I still face challenges, but I feel much better equipped to handle them now and my quality of life has improved significantly. To anyone considering therapy, I urge you to try it. I know that it can be scary to admit that you have issues in your life, and it may be discouraging if you don’t connect with your therapist, but having that person to help you face the challenges in your life can be a huge help.
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Congratulations to Henry for being selected as a FINALIST in the 2022 Share Your Story Multimedia Contest!
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