By Monica Proctor Wilson
During National Mental Health Awareness Month, I reflected on how I first learned about the importance of mental health care. Growing up, I often felt misunderstood emotionally, but I did not know that therapy or emotional support were even options of assistance. In many black communities, especially during the 70’s and 80’s, mental health was heavily stigmatized, so I quietly carried out my struggles alone. Everything changed when I entered college and discovered counseling services on campus. For the first time, I felt understood and realized caring for my mental health was just as important as caring for my physical health. I hid going to therapy from my family until I was in my 30’s because I feared judgment. Today, I openly recognize mental health therapy and emotional wellness as necessary parts of living with multiple sclerosis.
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