By Payton Sugden, PSR/PT aide at South Jordan Physical Therapy
When I heard Intermountain was recognizing Mental Health Awareness Month, I knew I had to get involved. And when I was offered an opportunity to share my story with fellow caregivers, I jumped at the chance.
Mental health challenges have been a part of my journey for more than half of my life. I was first diagnosed and treated for symptoms of major depressive disorder, as well as generalized anxiety disorder at age 13, but I can recall experiencing those symptoms as early as age 10.
I’ve experienced feelings of overwhelming sadness, apathy, and hopelessness when the world around me was going seemingly well. I’ve had panic and anxiety attacks, along with periods of social isolation and needing to be social. I’ve slept for days at a time and had periods of not being able to sleep at all. I’ve experienced self-worth, and yet still believed I was completely worthless. These are just some examples of struggles I’ve faced and still fight to overcome each day.
Mental health and mental Illness have been stigmatized since the beginning of time. Because of this stigma, there are a lot of people who were raised with the belief that mental health is just a state of mind that can be fixed by “being positive.” And, if you couldn’t “fix” it, you should hide it.
Singer Demi Lovato once said, “I wish people could understand that the brain is the most important organ of our body. Just because you can’t see mental illness like you could see a broken bone, doesn’t mean it’s not as detrimental or devastating to a family or an individual.”
Michelle Obama offered similar sentiments. “At the root of this dilemma is the way we view mental health in this country,” she said. “Whether an illness affects your heart, your leg, your brain, it’s still an illness and there should be no distinction.”
These two quotes are my favorites because they illustrate how a malfunction of the brain can affect someone’s thinking skills, intelligence, emotions, feelings, and relationship skills.
With love, compassion, and support of family and friends, a proper diagnosis, and the right medication and treatment, I’ve learned to better cope and sometimes even avoid the symptoms of depression, anxiety, and trauma. Yes, there are days, weeks, and sometimes months that are harder, but that's okay—I can live a full and happy life with the path I’m on.
To my fellow caregivers, I challenge each of you to take care of your brain the same way you’d take care of your heart and lungs, because it’s just as important. While I haven’t personally used Intermountain’s mental health resources like the Employee Assistance Program or the behavioral health navigation service, they’re available to you. If someone is struggling, reach out; be kind, listen, and offer support. And don’t forget to get the help you need. It’s there waiting for you. You deserve to be heard, validated, and healthy from head to toe.