Public Service Announcement: Counselling and therapy does not have to be a reactive step when you are already struggling. It can and should be a normal part of our lives, something we do on a regular basis to take care of our mental health, personal growth, and general wellbeing, and to improve self-awareness and understanding.
At the moment I'm the happiest I've ever been, but I know that my depression will return when my college course ends and I go back to the "real world" of full time work, commuting, renting, etc., because depression is my natural reaction to the world we live in. So I'm taking a preventive step and getting a series of 6 sessions with my college's counselling team after Christmas, because I'd like to build some resilience and find ways to manage how I feel so I don't get as low as I have before.
Counselling and therapy can be pricey, but there are low-cost and free options out there and is definitely worth considering, even if you have no idea what you'd talk about. And - talk about it! Chatting about things in an everyday sort of way helps to de-stigmatise and normalise them, which is super important as it makes it easier for others to open up and take steps they otherwise may not.
That is all. New post coming soon =]