If you are struggling with mental illness, please don’t be afraid to ask for help

This is 75mg of Effexor.

I take this daily to help me manage the anxiety that would otherwise not allow me to function in my roles as a husband, father, friend, and coach.

I used to be ashamed of this, but through my faith, my family, and my friends I’ve come to terms with the fact that this is simply okay and, at times, necessary for me.

I find it strange that we can take medication for a heart issue, a thyroid issue, a stomach issue, or even just a headache, yet taking a pill when your mind is afflicted with illness is somehow something that people feel that they have to keep a secret because of the stigma that surrounds it.

The simple fact is that some people need to be medicated to help them function or even survive. But this does not lessen who they are as a man or a woman.

I don’t want to watch another friend struggle or hear of another person losing a battle to depression who took their life due to lack of having been treated. If sharing this can prevent that for even one person then this post will have been totally worth it to me.

If you are struggling and you need to use medication and/or get counselling, there is no shame in that. It might be exactly what you need at this moment in your life.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help.