Mental health struggles are tough enough without feeling like the people who love you the most are using them as a weapon. This week, my husband and I got into it. He accused me of being depressed because I supposedly “don’t want to be with him.” Like, excuse me, sir? You’re talking to someone who’s literally in the middle of a mental health crisis, and that’s the angle you’re going with? It blew my mind, but it also made me realize how misunderstood mental health can be—especially by the people closest to you.
Here’s the thing: mental health doesn’t just affect you. It ripples into your relationships, your home, your job, and everything in between. But at the end of the day, you’re the one living it. You’re the one who has to navigate it, and you can’t force other people to “get it”—no matter how much you wish they would.
That’s why I’ve decided to focus on me. This week, I had my first session with a new therapist. She’s a middle-aged Jamaican woman, and honestly? She might already be one of my favorite people. She’s the type who listens without judgment, lets me talk as much as I need, and then hits me with feedback that actually makes sense. I’ve committed to seeing her every other week, and for the first time in a while, I feel like I’m moving in the right direction.
If you’ve ever been in a situation where your mental health is dismissed or misunderstood by someone you love, let me tell you this: boundaries are your best friend. I’ve had to be firm with my husband. I’m willing to share my journey, but I won’t tolerate accusations or assumptions when I’m already fighting battles he can’t see. Therapy is giving me the space to work through my struggles, and setting boundaries is protecting that space.
At the end of the day, mental health is deeply personal, and it’s not always something others will fully understand. But that’s okay. What matters most is taking care of yourself—even if that means walking this path alone for a while.