Take Care of Your Mind: What Mental Health Advocacy Means to Me

I can recall seasons in my life when my thoughts were completely misaligned, and I lacked the clarity to recognize the full extent of my disorder. It wasn’t until my family gently pointed it out that I began to understand just how deeply my mental state was affecting my life.

The Bible clearly states in Proverbs 23:7, “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.” This verse instantly reminds me that everything begins in the mind. When the mind is out of order, life often follows. It took me quite some time to fully process the errors in my ways, and even longer to begin the work of correcting them. Each day, I continue to learn more about my condition, along with the things I once wish I had known that might have helped prevent mental illness from becoming such a persistent challenge in my life.

Since life doesn’t come with a rewind button, I have chosen to advocate not only for mental health but for self-awareness, healing, and creating a life of balance and purpose.  I’m currently navigating a season of untangling the mess left by years of poor decisions and failed outcomes accumulated over the years before I received proper treatment from a care team. My prayer is that others can find prevention and understanding before learning the hard way. 

It isn’t easy to recognize when we need additional support for our mental health, especially when many of us don’t realize it at first. This isn’t simply about being “unstable” or “traumatized” by life. We live in a world where many people either cannot afford treatment or avoid it altogether because of fear, shame, stigma, pride, or the belief that seeking help is a sign of weakness.

I’m here to tell you that choosing help is an act of courage, and God meets us the moment we take that first step.