On mental health

I was chatting with some friends after a soccer game the other night.

Riding the high of all that movement, sweating like crazy in the heat and humidity, no one rushed off. Game nights are a chance for us to catch up.

The topic of mental health came up. How so many close friends are struggling right now. Some from objectively difficult situations: finding housing, dealing with burnout, staying afloat. Others feel the weight of the chaos in the US and overseas.

I agreed. And then I admitted to the group that I’ve been feeling low. I played it down by calling it the summer blues.

But if we’re being honest, it’s depression. Or anxiety. Or both.

One friend goes, “Even you, Nick? You’re one of the happiest, most positive people I know. You’re struggling?”

That got me thinking...

I’m good at chameleon-ing. Even on low days, I’ve learned to blend in, pull myself together, and show up to that soccer game with positive energy.

So like me, how many people in my life are smiling through the pain?

The truth is, if I unconsciously avoid negative emotions with my friends, I miss opportunities to connect and let them know that they’re not alone.

That’s why I’m sharing this story today.

I’m so grateful for this life. I’m aware of my privilege. And I still struggle mentally.

It’s a roller coaster, and that’s okay. Is there any purpose in life but to be alive? To feel the full spectrum of human emotion?

When I’m feeling down, I’ll sit in it. All emotions serve a purpose.

Then I try the 3 Ms: move, make, or mingle. I’ll go for a run or a skate to move. Then come back home and make a meal, write a journal entry, or strum the guitar. And through it all, I’ll lean on community (mingle). I’ll try to convince a friend to move or make with me.

It doesn’t always work, but it usually helps. And that’s all I want—for me and my people to feel just a little lighter. Love y’all 🌞