Chapter 1: Understanding Mental Health

Dear Beloved,

While I can’t share every detail about mental health, I can offer you the essential insights you need. I have come to know you deeply.

At your age, achieving such a level of self-awareness is challenging, especially when past wounds influence your daily life. It's important to remember that wisdom often accompanies age, though not always.

Let’s begin with encouragement. You will encounter numerous challenges that will drain your spirit, but you possess an incredible ability to rise again.

Your strength and resilience are remarkable, even if you struggle to recognize them amidst feelings of vulnerability and self-doubt. More often than not, you might see yourself as an emotional wreck rather than the courageous individual you truly are. In time, you will learn to value your inherent strength.

Every trauma you face will leave its mark, reshaping your brain but never diminishing your essence as a beacon of light in this sometimes gloomy world.

Above all, remember that you are worthy, lovable, and unforgettable.

You will spend years seeking validation from others, and I wish I could help you shorten this tumultuous journey. This misleading belief will lead you into painful situations time and again.

Your journey begins with an unexpected teenage pregnancy, transitions into fleeting relationships, and culminates with an authoritarian teacher who shatters the self-esteem you manage to build.

If I could reach back in time, I would embrace you and reassure you, “You are perfect as you are. External validation is unnecessary.”

Ultimately, the stress of trying to prove your worth will lead to a debilitating illness. This will force you to slow down, allowing for both physical and emotional healing.

It is only through this process that you will begin to confront your mental health.

For much of my life, I had a distaste for the term "mental health."

While I would never stigmatize anyone with mental illness, the idea of being urged into therapy to address childhood issues terrified me.

I often whispered to myself, “I’m perfectly fine,” too scared to voice my concerns.

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines mental health as “the general condition of one’s mental and emotional state.” I had wrongly associated this term with negativity. Acknowledging mental health issues felt like admitting I was flawed, intensifying my existing feelings of shame and worthlessness.

I managed to convince myself that I was fine because I appeared to function adequately. However, the reality is stark.

My long-standing phobia of birds began around age six, placing me squarely in the realm of anxiety disorders. The seeds of PTSD were sown by a menacing figure in our neighborhood at that same age, blossoming into full-blown trauma after a sexual assault in my young adulthood.

Still, I clung to the belief that I was unscathed. I found no solace in therapy, blocking myself from seeking help.

Despite ongoing stigma surrounding mental illness, the internet has fostered a community where individuals share their mental health experiences and combat this stigma daily.

It’s essential for you to know that having mental health challenges is perfectly acceptable. It does not signify weakness, and you are not alone. These experiences contribute to your uniqueness, which I cherish.

In time, you will confront your mental health, discovering the insight, self-acceptance, and comfort you rightfully deserve.

Learning about ADHD in women resonated with me; I found myself nodding along. The same was true when I read about level one Autism in women—I felt a sense of recognition.

The truth remains, I may never fully understand this. My therapist suggests that distinguishing between Autism and childhood trauma is complex. Dr. Megan Anna Neff points out that PTSD often coexists with trauma at alarming rates.

Did Autism play a role in my PTSD development, or did the trauma render my brain more neurodivergent?

Obtaining an accurate assessment for Autism or ADHD at this stage in my life would be challenging and costly.

Yet, gaining insights from the online community about ADHD and Autism has been immensely beneficial. I’ve learned to accommodate my unique needs, including sensory sensitivities, and take better care of myself.

Autism and ADHD are not mental illnesses, but they undeniably influence our mental health. Neurodivergent brains operate differently from neurotypical ones and require specialized care.

Living in a world designed for neurotypical individuals can be overwhelming for neurodivergent individuals like us.

It’s no surprise that you often feel inundated, just as I did. However, one day, you will find clarity in your mental health journey. When you embrace your neurodivergence, you will experience profound relief and self-acceptance.

You harbor many dreams and aspirations. I admire your expansive vision and desire to impact the world in meaningful ways.

Life may unfold differently than you envision now, without the grand revolution you imagine. Nonetheless, I assure you that you will touch countless lives in significant ways.

With love,

Your Older Self

Many thanks to our new KTHT editor, May More, and to Diana C. for the writing prompt behind this story: “Write a note on mental health to your younger self.”

Chapter 2: The Importance of Mental Health Awareness

The first video titled "We All Have Mental Health" emphasizes the universal nature of mental health and its importance in our lives. It encourages self-acceptance and the recognition that mental health issues are a shared experience.

The second video, "Mental health: What it is and why it matters | CBC Kids News," explains the fundamentals of mental health and its significance for everyone, highlighting the need for understanding and support.