In honor of #WorldMentalHealthDay, I wanted to open up a little about how therapy changed my life. If I could tell my younger self anything, it would be to start sooner. But in my 20s, I felt like therapy was something for severe mental health issues, that I was functioning well enough that I didn’t need it. After all, my friends went to me for advice. But I did need someone because I was carrying more than I realized. Please know therapy is for everyone because navigating life is hard for everyone. I started seeing someone three years ago because I hit a crisis point: Someone I loved had major mental health issues, and I didn’t know how to help them while also protecting my own wellbeing. I just knew I couldn’t do it alone and needed a professional. I was a little scared, going in, of how this process would change me. At first, my sessions were about trying to be there for my friend. Then they became, over time, about learning how to be there for me. I stopped putting myself last. I started cultivating relationships with people where our dynamics were even. I talked out a lot of things and grew to understand my reactions more. Today, I’m so far from who I was when I started therapy, but I feel like the most grounded, coolest version of me. I’m so thankful. It was work I was ready to do, and I’m still doing it. It feels exciting now though. You don’t always get the right therapist on the first try, but I’m lucky I did. Please, if you’ve tried and haven’t found that right person yet, don’t give up on it. One of the first things my therapist gave me was a CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) thought log. That exercise of breaking down my thoughts helped me stop spiraling so much and keep a balanced perspective. Google it and use it, even if you never see a therapist in your life. @officialwondermind is also doing great work on providing mental health advice and resources that are really easy to understand. I’m so thankful to the friends who gently encouraged me to talk to someone long before I did. Watching how therapy changed them as well helped me become more excited about the idea. It’s really just like having a trainer for your mental health. 💪🏼