Nieisha
Nieisha
Don’t struggle in silence
For me, mental wellness will be a lifelong battle. There will be some good times as well as not-so-good times. The important thing is to lean on my support system in times of need.
About 10 years ago, Nieisha began her battle with mental health. “It took me about a month to figure out what was wrong,” she explains. “I couldn’t eat, was unable to sleep, had trouble focusing at work, my memory was bad, and my anxiety was at an all-time high. My father suggested I go to my primary care physician to get checked out.”
That trip to the doctor resulted in a diagnosis of depression. Subsequent sessions with a therapist revealed more about Nieisha’s condition.
I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, a mental health condition where one experiences high highs and lows.
The psychologist suggested I check into a hospital. I fought that idea, I thought I could do it own my own. But that proved to be wrong, so I begrudgingly checked into a psych ward and stayed two weeks for treatment.
After treatment, I felt fine. I kept up with my appointments and thought I had been cured, I thought I beat my mental health condition.
From that point, Nieisha had some highs and lows, but she felt she had her condition under control. However, in 2017, she once again began to experience symptoms of bipolar depression.
This recovery took longer than the last, about 7 months to be exact. I’m currently in treatment at a local health center and am allowing myself time to heal.
Just like a person who has been diagnosed with cancer, you may have gone through a few rounds of chemotherapy and the cancer may be gone; but you later come to terms with the reality that you’re susceptible to growing cancerous cells in the future.
Nieisha knows that she may always have to battle her condition. She feels fortunate, however, that help is available to her—from her doctors and from her extremely supportive family.
She also knows that others dealing with mental health struggles may not have a strong support system and that mental health stigma may be keeping them from reaching out for help.
I would tell anyone who needs help but is resistant because of the stigma that there are ways you can receive help discreetly, whether it be online or over the phone.
That may be the first step you take, but don’t struggle in silence alone.
