It is going to take a long time to do this, but we need to get it out of our minds that experiencing anxiety or depression is somehow a personal failing. It isn’t.

People need medication for mental health at times just like they need medication for blood pressure, diabetes, or Parkinson’s. Can you improve your blood pressure and diabetes with sheer the sheer will power of diet and exercise alone? Yes. But not always and not in most cases. I exercise six days per week, get lots of sleep, and eat very healthy and still require blood pressure medication. It is genetic. My cholesterol, on no medication is awesome. That is genetic.

I need anxiety medication and recently had to increase my dose. When my dose went up, my mind felt like calm waters instead or scorched earth. And that is not an exaggeration.

Please don’t be hard on yourself. Get the help you need and don’t feel ashamed. There is nothing to feel “less than” about because your mind is not working as it should.