I'd like to talk about Mental Health

I think we as a society need to talk about Mental Health more. So as the resident loud person I'd like to talk about it. Yesterday I published a piece on how much I accomplished this year and how proud of myself I am. I talked about all the lessons I learned and how I've grown as a person over the last 3 years in particular. And while all that may be true, and I will never want to change anything about what I accomplished. I do want to let you in on a little secret? But before I do please understand that I am not being negative or downplaying my accomplishments or saying that I'm not proud of myself. I am so proud of everything. That will never change. Please understand that.

Now for the secret: After a semester ends I crash. I get so tired and feel like I ran a million miles an hour. My body needs to recover from all the work I did. And process everything. This does not mean I'm not capable of doing life or being an adult and I can't believe that in 2025 almost 2026 I still have to even justify myself. Because when I'm in school mode, I work very hard. I put hours upon hours of work into everything I do. And I know many college students do the same, so I'm not alone. I give it all I've got and go a million miles an hour. I enjoy everything and savor every moment.

In my last piece I talked about how when I got my associates degree it was the greatest moment of my life and it very much was. I was truly complete in a way I didn't know i needed to be. BUT soon after graduation came burnout. I had gone so hard and worked my tail off and had the time of my life doing it but I crashed. I was spent. I had stressed myself out so much I made myself sick. But it didn't hit until after graduation. I had to complete what I had set out to do.

My last piece was not a lie by any stretch of the imagination. I just wasn't entirely ready to talk about the other side of the coin. The burnout side. The crashing side. Where every day felt like a marathon run i was going have to pay for later mentally. Where every social interaction felt almost as if I was playing a character. And I need to note here I wasn't. I truly enjoyed every moment of getting my associates degree. I wouldn't trade it for the world.

The people were amazing! the experiences were once in a lifetime and although I was burned out after and during. I would do it all again in a heartbeat. Because like I said I became the person I needed to be and I truly believe I had to go to that school and get that degree to become the person I am today. And that's something I hold dear to my heart. I need you to know that.

But as a slightly autistic person I have to mask in public although for the most part i've stopped because I truly don't give a crap anymore. I don't care if people don't like me or find me odd. Guess what? We all are! I have yet to meet a single normal person. We've all got something. I wish society was more accepting of mental health and understand that sometimes it's a mental battle. Which is why I want to use my stories and experiences to help others so that nobody feels alone.