Hey there!

Hello, internet! Welcome to my blog More than Happy Pills. You might be asking yourself, "More than Happy Pills? What's that supposed to mean?" Fear not, I'm not going to be teaching you about drugs. The purpose of this blog is to share what it's been like for me, living as a person with anxiety and depression. My goal is to share my own and others' stories, the successes, the horrors and what life is like overall for people in my situation.

I don't want to bore you with my stories or sound like I'm complaining, but I know I'm not the only one out there with these health issues. And I'm not the only one writing about them. But I am someone who is willing to take a walk in just about anyone's shoes. I'm willing to tell my story and share what I know, in the hopes that maybe one person will be better off for it (even if that person is me).

So back to my title. Have you ever tried treatment for depression and anxiety? In my personal experience, it's a rough road. As someone who came from a family where mental health wasn't considered much of a "real thing," the people I'm close to had a hard time understanding what I was going through when I finally received a diagnosis. They didn't know what was going through my head, what I felt, why I couldn't understand what I felt, and how I could get better. I spent a year on antidepressants, going through therapy with a wonderful man who taught me it was okay to not be okay. I decided to shoulder the antidepressants a little over a year and a half ago. I felt like my life was going in a good direction, and I'd learned how to manage my conditions. And I strongly dislike putting pills into my body to be "healthy."

Don't get me wrong; antidepressants can work wonders. They helped me control my overthinking and got rid of the cold emptiness of depression. The trick was making myself into a person who could handle depression and anxiety without the help of drugs. I just needed to clear my mind first. But it takes more to become a person who's living life, rather than enduring it. It's more than the pills, more than the therapy, more than support from family and friends. That's why I'm here. I need to vent about the things in this world that affect so many people, but still exist under such stigma.

So thank you for taking a moment out of your day to consider my thoughts. And as cheesy as it sounds, I'm here for each and every one of you reading this. Yes, everyone says that, but I promise here and now that if anyone needs help, you can reach out to me and receive an answer. I may not be a doctor or a psychologist, but I'm someone with an open mind who's willing to talk.

And remember, if you're going to enjoy life, you've got to try more than the happy pills.