Mental illness and the holiday season and how you can help
I love November because I get to see and hear about what people are thankful for in their lives. The few weeks leading up to Thanksgiving remind people what is truly important to them. This encourages me to reflect on what and who I have in my life rather than dwell on my illness. I’m thankful for many things: I have a place to live, clean water to drink, and food in the fridge. But what I’m most thankful for is my amazing support system. There is no material possession that compares to love and encouragement from those who care about you. I have my service dog Joey, my family, my friends, my mental health workers, and my community. I also have an extended support system of people I’ve met through social media pages. Even on my difficult days, I know that there are people who believe in me and will be there for me. Many people with mental illness don’t have strong support systems; they often have to fight the battle on their own. I've seen people in the hospital with no