Yes, I hope you sang it. Matchbox Twenty perfectly depicted struggling with mental health in one catchy little line.

I write this from my kitchen table on a Wednesday afternoon when I should be at work with the rest of the corporate world. However, a set of unfortunate events have unfolded, leading me to a prescribed “mental health day”. Literally…I have a letter.

If you’ve ever struggled with mental health, you know that sometimes you have to give in to using medications if it means enhancing (or saving) your quality of life. There is nothing wrong with that. We all have chemicals in our brains and sometimes they get jumbled up and out of whack. Sometimes the meds fix it and sometimes you change your dosage and end up with blistered lips and crying uncontrollably at work. No doubt its embarrassing, inconvenient and absolutely ridiculous, but it’s also just chemicals. If you’re lucky, you have a great support system that reminds you of that and keeps you from classifying yourself as insane…regardless of whether or not you feel otherwise.

It’s such a funny game we play. “Is this real?” “Am I faking it?” “Am I blowing it out of proportion?” Probably not. I can’t imagine anyone wanting to feel out of sorts on purpose. “But what will other people think?” “What will my boss say?” You can’t undo what has been done, seen, or interpreted by others. You just have to hope they understand and go from there.

You’re not a bad person. You’re not insane in the membrane. The only way to get over it is through it, so head down and power on, sis. Lean on the ones who stand for you, beside you, and with you. Advocate for yourself when it comes to something you feel strongly about; suggestions from other people are just that… suggestions from other people- regardless of how many letters they have behind their name. It is easy to allow yourself to fall into a funk when something goes wrong when it should have been a fix. “Is it just me?” “Why is my body doing this to me?” “How did I allow this to happen?” TRUST ME. I have had all of those thoughts and more. The guilt is real. This is real. Your feelings are valid. You are not alone.

You’re not crazy, you’re just a little unwell.