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"Getting help, in whatever form, is so important. It was a sacrifice and decision I would make over and over again." - Graphic via Canva
Mental health has seemingly become a buzzword among young adults, especially on college campuses. While I think it’s great that universities are more outspoken and conscientious about students’ mental health and overall mental wellbeing, I believe there is a lack of understanding regarding what goes into “getting help.” What does “help” look like, and is it actually helpful?
When a student is struggling with their mental health, it is always important to presume that the issue is probably much deeper than what is shown on the surface or spoken about out loud. Many people are very good at hiding what’s going on behind the scenes.
I have been told on numerous occasions that I needed to “seek help sooner” than I did. Getting medication and mental health support is a months-long, years-long, and occasionally lifetime-long process. Finding a good therapist or psychiatrist is the first step in the battle. They all specialize in different areas, and once you narrow down your search to someone who specializes in what you need, you have to find someone who uses a method that works for you.
If you need or are seeking medication management, that is a whole different animal. Medications can interact with mental illnesses or conditions, ones that you may not even be aware that you have, and other medications, according to the NHS. While medications can save lives, they can also destroy them. Sometimes you have to go through several rounds of different medications to find one that works for you. Even medications that do help still have side effects like brain fog, increased heart rate, and insomnia, to name a few that I’m currently dealing with, or even more detrimental side effects, which I have also dealt with in the recent past, according to Mind.org. These side effects, unfortunately, might be the trade-off you have to make.
“Getting help” is not some magic button you can press to be cured. It’s not something you can fix overnight or in a week. The hardest part for me has been the hit to my pride as a student. My GPA decreased when I started trying to get help. My attendance plummeted when I started my first medication. I wasn’t on the dean’s list for the first semester since coming to Rowan.
As someone who takes great pride in my academics, in my attendance, and in my overall academic success, the choice to get myself the vital help I needed came at a great sacrifice: the student I used to be. While the majority of my professors in the journalism department have had an overflowing amount of understanding, I know that many students don’t have that same experience. Their biggest critic may not be themselves, it could be their professors, who have a limited understanding of how hard it is to get real support for real struggles.
I also respect the decision of not wanting to even try medications after hearing the horror stories. I have horror stories, and now that I have experienced this roller coaster of a journey, I have a renewed and deeper sense of compassion for students missing classes or having mental health struggles. I get it.
However, getting help, in whatever form, is so important. It was a sacrifice and decision I would make over and over again. You, your life, and your well-being matter and should be your top priority. Other people can adjust. Do not sacrifice yourself for other people’s comfort.
Mental health is complicated. Getting help is complicated. The “help” that is offered isn’t always helpful, and that is something that needs to be talked about more. Students and people seeking help deserve support from people who understand this.
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