We talk quite a bit about mentality, mental health, our own experiences, battles, demons, etc. We think it’s an important topic to discuss, because I don’t think it’s getting talked about enough. I think it has come to light much more within the last few years, but still think they’re both under-appreciated and underestimated relative to the amount of power each can have over a person.

Anxiety is one of the most common mental illnesses, affecting 18.1% over the age of 18 in the U.S. annually. Typically, anxiety can be caused by genetics, brain chemistry, personality, and certain life events.

I remember my freshman year of college, my academic advisor told me I had anxiety, and this was about 4 years before I went through my lowest point of depression and anxiety after I was already in the ‘adult world.’ Oh, I switched academic advisors by the way…

As many are aware, it’s very common for depression to coincide with anxiety, and vice-versa. One of those, ‘kick ya while you’re down’ type of deals. Depression is also caused by genes and life changes, but mostly some particular personal experience, past or present.

This may not come as quite the shock, but there is a strong connection between these mental illnesses and suicide. Depression has been reported as affecting nearly 5-8% of Americans ages 18 and older. It has also been associated with being a commonality in almost 50% of suicide deaths, and in up to 75% of alcoholic related suicide deaths.

Now there are those that say your mindset is everything. Yes, that’s true, and I believe that with a lot of things, but I also think that when some type of external factor (another person, relationship, friendship, loss, tragic event) has done most of the damage, you have to go through to get out, and simply telling yourself you’re happy might not do the trick. I’ve been in bad moods because I had thoughts about something long ago that made me angry again, then came to and realized I didn’t need to be thinking about that because I had no reason to, and was fine. However, with my lowest points and my battle with anxiety and depression during that time, lots of external forces and my own demons came to fight that one.

If you suffer from anxiety, depression, or both, please talk to someone. It certainly doesn’t have to be a therapist, your immediate family, or any family for that matter. If it’s your best friend, the aunt/uncle that’s not blood, but kinda is, or whoever you’re drawn to, tell them. They will listen. I promise you, it’s the last thing you want to admit, but it’s worth it. There’s nothing that someone can say or do that will really ‘help.’ I’ve not seen a therapist to date, but am financially planning to do so as I type this. So he or she could offer someone tremendous help, since they specialize in this kind of thing, but if you’re not ready for that, I wanted to help emphasize the next best thing, which is at least a baby step.

We’re all here together, so let’s talk about it and help each other. This isn’t a joke, this is part of real life. And the more and more bullshit that comes out on the internet, it might only get worse. Stay on your own journey, whatever you want it to be, and stay strong. It all works out.