Sawyer
Sawyer
Your brain is an organ just like any other
As a child, Sawyer was vibrant and inquisitive, enamored with the outdoors, and a lover of video games. However, as Sawyer got older, he found himself becoming lethargic and consistently melancholy, both of which were infringing on his well-being.
Despite the impact these symptoms were having on his life, Sawyer was hesitant to seek out help due to fears of being judged or ridiculed. As a result, he continued to struggle in silence.
There were days when I didn’t feel I could leave my bed, when I felt sapped. It seemed like people would understand this if I had the flu, but not if I was depressed.
By the time Sawyer was going to college, facing the stressors of such significant life changes, his symptoms intensified. The symptoms increased to a point where Sawyer gained the courage to reach out to his school’s mental health care services for help.
Yet, despite this effort to get help, Sawyer felt that he was largely met with dismissal from his school. Dejected, he decided not to seek out further care.
After college, Sawyer enlisted in the Air Force. Following a personal tragedy in 2020, Sawyer knew it was time to get help for his debilitating symptoms. Thankfully, he found a provider who took his concerns seriously.
“Say you fall and break your arm. You’re not going to look at your broken arm and go about your day. Your brain is an organ just like any other; you have to take care of it.”
After an appointment with a psychiatrist, Sawyer was diagnosed with anxiety, depression, and an unspecified personality disorder. While this diagnosis marked the beginning of his journey toward recovery, mental health stigmas in military culture posed an unexpected challenge to getting better.
Within the military, people would rather sweep problems under the rug than address them. They do not see seeking help as a strength, but rather a weakness.
They would rather have you cope with alcohol or other unhealthy means as opposed to reaching out. They may publicly promote supporting mental health challenges, but then actively take positions away as a result.
Sawyer explained that this attitude is held by many individuals within the military. Seeking help or admitting to mental health struggles is often viewed as a sign of weakness. This belief fosters an environment where mental health conditions are largely ignored or suppressed, perpetuating cycles of distress.
Due to this systemic lack of support, Sawyer made the difficult decision to prioritize his mental health and step away from military service to focus on his well-being.
Since leaving the Air Force, Sawyer has started going to therapy. Therapy has provided Sawyer with valuable insights into his condition and has given him the tools needed to manage his symptoms. Further, he has made lifestyle changes to augment his therapeutic care, such as hiking, camping, and spending time with loved ones—all of which serve as sources of comfort and joy.
Encouraging others to prioritize their mental well-being, Sawyer emphasizes the importance of seeking help and challenging the stigma surrounding mental health.
It’s like anything else. Say you fall and break your arm. You’re not going to look at your broken arm and go about your day. Your brain is an organ just like any other; you have to take care of it.
One provider doesn’t speak for them all. You have to stay vigilant and look for help. The only way to destigmatize mental health is to normalize it.
Because of his bravery in seeking treatment, Sawyer has been more present in his life. Now, Sawyer fills his days by spending time with his wife and their dogs and turtles, relishing the simple pleasures of health, companionship, understanding, care, and the natural world. Sawyer encourages others struggling as he once did to seek out avenues of support.
There is no need to struggle in silence.
