15 Inspirational Mental Health Quotes That Will Help You Feel Less Alone
15 Inspirational Mental Health Quotes That Will Help You Feel Less Alone
It’s hard to live with depression, anxiety, and stress and it can feel lonely at times, as if others cant or dont understand. But the truth is that there are people out there who do, who have been through their own journeys and struggles. Here are some quotes that will help you feel less alone.
“I fight for my health every day in ways most people don’t understand. I’m not lazy. I’m a warrior.”
“Gardens are not made by sitting in the shade.”
“Failure is a great teacher and, if you are open to it, every mistake has a lesson to offer.”
“If you stumble, make it part of the dance.”
“The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen.”
“Your illness is not your identity. Your chemistry is not your character.”
“Even if we don’t have the power to choose where we come from, we can still choose where we go from there.”
“’I wish it need not have happened in my time,’ said Frodo.
‘So do I,’ said Gandalf, ‘and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.’”
“You are valuable just because you exist. Not because of what you do or what you have done, but simply because you are.”
“In the middle of winter I at last discovered that there was in me an invincible summer.”
“It’s up to you today to start making healthy choices. Not choices that are just healthy for your body, but healthy for your mind.”
“One of the things that baffles me (and there are quite a few) is how there can be so much lingering stigma with regards to mental illness, specifically bipolar disorder. In my opinion, living with manic depression takes a tremendous amount of balls. Not unlike a tour of Afghanistan (though the bombs and bullets, in this case, come from the inside). At times, being bipolar can be an all-consuming challenge, requiring a lot of stamina and even more courage, so if you’re living with this illness and functioning at all, it’s something to be proud of, not ashamed of.
They should issue medals along with the steady stream of medication.”
“There is hope, even when your brain tells you there isn’t.”
“There is no standard normal. Normal is subjective. There are seven billion versions of normal on this planet.”
“But no matter how much evil I see, I think it’s important for everyone to understand that there is much more light than darkness.”
“Sometimes the people around you won’t understand your journey. They don’t need to, it’s not for them.”
“I am not afraid of storms for I am learning how to sail my ship.”
Which of the quotes was your favorite? Did any of them resonate with you? Let us know in the comments below; we’d love to hear from you.
therapist serving mclean, tysons corner, merrifield, falls church, arlington and vienna
Victoria Chialy Smith, PhD is a licensed clinical psychologist providing individual therapy to children, teens, and adults with stress, anxiety, and depression. Our practice provides Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), mindfulness based therapies, and other top, premier evidence-based treatments, and serves the Falls Church, McLean, Great Falls, Vienna, Arlington, Alexandria, and the greater Washington DC region. Call, email, or schedule an appointment with us online today. We’re happy to help develop the best treatment for you!
1. What drew you to the field of psychological and neuropsychological assessment?
"I was diagnosed with ADHD later in life, while I was in graduate school, and that experience really shaped my passion for assessment. After my diagnosis, I was able to look back at pieces of my childhood that I had previously viewed through the lens of anxiety or “I just didn't try hard enough” and recognize that, in reality, my brain just worked differently.
That's one of the things I love most about testing. So often, people know that something feels different or that they're struggling, but they don't necessarily have the words to explain why. This can be especially true for high-achieving individuals. They may be doing well academically or professionally, while the difficulties show up elsewhere (relationships, work performance, anxiety, self-esteem, effort to mask, etc).
Receiving a diagnosis can be incredibly validating because it gives someone a framework for understanding their experiences. Instead of wondering, “Am I just not trying hard enough?” or “Is everyone else struggling this much too?”, they can recognize that their brain genuinely processes certain things differently. For many of my adult clients, an evaluation is the first time they feel truly understood.
That's also why I tell people that it's never too late to pursue testing. That feeling of validation and being understood is powerful and invaluable, no matter what age. And for providers, if you suspect that there may be something more going on for a client, referring them for an evaluation can be an incredibly helpful next step in their journey."