415: How to Get Help for Mental Illness // Sarah McKenna – 3 in 30 Podcast for Moms: Top US Motherhood Podcast

After my daughter Sally was born, I stopped sleeping. During the day, I had a hard time looking at my baby because I didn't feel like I could take care of myself, let alone her. Up to this point, I had managed my natural melancholy okay on my own, but after a terrifying panic attack, I reached out for professional help.

I attribute my quick decision to get help to my older sister, Sarah, who has fought mental illness since she was a young teenager. Previously, Sarah joined me for a conversation about ways to cope with depression, and in this interview, she's back to discuss how best to seek professional support if you are struggling - and what options are even out there for you to pursue.

To support you even further, I've created a guide (below) that includes actionable ways to support yourself in depression and how to support a loved one who is struggling, as well as a private playlist of all of the episodes I've released about mental illness.

Now, let's dive into Sarah's takeaways on how to get mental health help.

3 KEY TAKEAWAYS:

Don't be afraid to try medication. Medicine can be a very intimidating step to take. I cried the first time I thought I might need it. However, if you are consistently struggling with your mental health, not feeling like yourself, or especially if you struggle with dark, intrusive thoughts, such as suicidal ideation, please reach out to either your OB-GYN or your family practitioner. They can help you find a medication (or a cocktail of medications) that can help you feel like yourself again. I have struggled over the years because I've wanted to get off my medication, but Sarah always reminds me of the glasses metaphor. She tells me, "If you needed glasses, you wouldn't think twice about wearing glasses for the rest of your life. Why is medication any different?" I love that metaphor! It helps me breathe a sigh of relief and accept that I need medication in order to function my best. And that's ok.

Therapy is your friend! I am a huge advocate of therapy! If you have followed me for any length of time, I'm sure you already know that. Therapy has literally changed my life. I shout from the rooftops how highly I recommend therapy for everyone! However, it can be really overwhelming to figure out how to find a therapist. There are so many therapists out there, and so many different therapy modalities. And if you're in the middle of deep mental illness struggles, it can seem impossible to muster the energy to sort through all of the information. Sarah suggests starting by listening to this episode from three therapists: Thoughts on thoughts Podcast, Episode 14: Finding a Therapist and Different Types of Therapy. Once you know what type of therapist you want to try, you can better narrow the field. If you're feeling too overwhelmed, or you're in too dark of a place, to do this for yourself. Please ask for help from a loved one or a friend. They can do the digging for you! They can set up an appointment for you! Seek the help. It is worth it!

Find a creative outlet. This doesn't mean you need to become a painter. Creativity can look so many different ways. Writing, music, dancing, sports, service opportunities, cooking … it's creating something that didn't exist before. Creative outlets can help you express emotions when words don't cut it. They also help you see that you add value to the world. Often when we're in the murk of mental illness, creativity is the last thing we want to do. But if we can rally ourselves to dip into anything creative, it helps put a spark of life back into us. It. Is. So. Helpful.

I wish we sitting in a room together so you could chime in and share your experiences and advice on how to get help for mental illness. If you're in the depths of mental illness, I wish could give you a hug. My hope for you is that you feel supported and loved, you reach out for help if you need it, and you reach out to help if you're in a position to do that. We are all in this together.