Charlene
Charlene
There’s no shame in having a mental health condition
For years, Charlene didn’t think she had a problem with alcohol or drugs, despite the fact the she would bring “nips” to the movie theater, smoked pot almost daily as a college student, and insisted on having “one more for the road” before leaving the bar.
In my teens and early twenties, I did a lot of drugs and alcohol.
I didn’t really see it as problem, I saw it as whatever helps me get through the day.
Charlene eventually got honest about her problems, but it took time.
In her early teens, she experienced her first bout of severe depression—the result of an early childhood trauma. In hindsight, she realized she was self-medicating with drugs and alcohol by age 14.
In her twenties, she sought help for alcohol and drug misuse and depression.
At this point, Charlene started to take steps to overcome her problems and put her life back on track. By the time she was 27, she says “the abyss was no longer my constant companion.”
“There’s no shame in having a mental health condition. I want people to understand that.”
For her, the key was to confront her issues honestly, not with euphemisms or avoidance.
I don’t want to say I was a ‘substance abuser’—that’s a euphemism. I was an addict, and I accepted that as fact.
But being diagnosed with a mental health disorder? Not so much. It’s taken me a long time, but I’ve finally embraced both.
Today, Charlene is in therapy and taking anti-depression medication to deal with her issues.
She says that talking publicly about her mental health, particularly addiction, has helped keep her focused on her treatment.
By speaking out, she wants to help young people understand the importance of getting help early on—especially because she has first-hand experience of discovering how hope can turn dreams into reality while still young.
There’s no shame in having a mental health condition. I want people to understand that.
And, I want people to get help sooner than later, so they can have a life of their own.
To inspire others, Charlene shares a quote from philosopher and author Daisaku Ikeda:
Effort and hard work construct the bridge that connects your dreams to reality.
Those who make steady efforts are full of hope. And hope, in turn, arises from steady efforts.
Embrace your dreams and advance as far as they can take you.
