@rsande64 said in Mental Health: Personal Experiences:
I really feel for kids these days. It was hard enough growing up in an era before social media took off, and now it seems like you guys don't really have a way to "retreat" so to speak.
I've gone through and continue to fight my own battles in the arena of mental health (been diagnosed as clinically depressed since my teenage years, with an anxiety condition on top)
There's not really an easy answer and anyone who says otherwise is bullshitting. Medication, counseling, exercise, friends/family, etc. In my opinion it's about finding your own combination of those outlets and more that work for you, personally.
It was a real struggle for me for a long time until I figured out what I needed specifically in my life, and probably more importantly who I needed.
Don't be afraid to distance yourself from people who don't have your best interest and happiness in mind, and be open and honest with those who you know do.
It's also important to not become too reliant on any one person or thing as a pillar for your mental health.
I used to have real issues with dependency and co-dependency and I'll say that although it may make you feel better in the short term, it's definitely not a real solution.
I know what I'm saying is super generic, but I'm kind of hoping you and anybody who might need it can use this as sort of a springboard towards what they need as an individual.
I've had a rough 6 months or so (let's be real, we've all had a rough 2 years or so at this point) but, I can tell you that all the changes I've made to how I process my emotions have made it infinitely easier than if all this went down 20 years ago.
I think for someone at your age, the most important thing to keep in mind is "this too shall pass".
You're at such an early stage of your journey and have really just begun to become your own person. When you get down, think of all the freedoms and experiences you have ahead of you and let that be your motivation to keep your head up.

Your statement couldn’t have been more inspirational, thx man