Beyond the mask: Unveiling the Need for Mental Health Support.
Updated: May 14
May is Mental Health awareness month. Did you know one in five adults in the US have a mental health condition? But that one person has family, friends, and co-workers, and others whose lives are touched by their condition. I found these statistics interesting, providing a better perspective.
48 million have an anxiety disorder
21 million have major depression
9 million have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
7 million have bipolar disorder
3.5 million have borderline personality disorder
3 million have obsessive compulsive disorder
1.5 million have schizophrenia.
The discovery of the mask:
I wrote about my mental health struggles in my testimony. I heard an interesting statement that became common, from people who read my book and knew me. The statement was disturbing because I realized people were fooled by the outward appearance. My outward appearance is the mask they referred to. I didn't purposely don a mask to deceive others. The statement was, "You look so put together" followed by explaining they had no idea I went through a traumatic event. Some explained they saw me smiling and raising my my hands in a posture of praise at church. These observations were true however a lesson I soon learned. I wondered how many people have crossed my path and I accepted their mask as a status of wellbeing.
Under the mask:
Underneath the mask was a woman who hit rock bottom. I was diagnosed with PTSD among other challenging difficulties. Recently, I learned 70% of adults in the US have experienced some type of traumatic event at least once in their lives. That's 223.4 million people. The statistics above is an indicator that we have experienced or been touched by someone with mental health disorders. Chances are you encounter someone daily who is or has struggled.
I didn't want to face the world. Many days I felt myself melt into despair. Often, I felt I would never feel normal again. There were days when my goal seemed like it was in another atmosphere, millions of miles away. The excuses to quit or take the easy route were extremely tempting. Then from within I knew I should only glance at the goal. I knew my focus was to remain on the next step. Then I recalled the promises for believers. Go in the strength you have... Judges 6:14 NIV. God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1-3. I can do all things through him who strengthens me, Philippians 4:13. My favorite verse when I felt weak was 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 "But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness"".
My mask from my perspective:
In some respects I felt the statement was negative. I didn't want people to think I was fake or wearing a mask. I kept my problems to myself and managed in private. I felt lousy and defeated as I walked through the dark valley. I reached out to God and professionals during this process receiving their knowledge and wisdom. I knew I was being grounded even when it didn't feel like it. The mask, to me, represented hope in God, will power, and the strength that remained in me. I prefer people view it from this perspective instead. I knew the storms of life are temporary which gave me hope and the strength to keep going. 17 For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! 18 So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever. 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 NLT.
So, in closing.
Things are much deeper than our outer appearance (mask).
Chances are daily, you encounter someone battling or touched by someone with a mental health disorder.
Reaching out for professional help was the best thing I did in my struggle.
National Suicide and Crisis Hotline, text or call 988
Crisis Text Line, text HOME to 741741
National Domestic Violence Hotline, 800-799-SAFE
Comments