Mental Health Awareness

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by astropessimist

by astropessimist

|| A short story for mental health awareness ||

The winter never seemed to stop. The cold pierced the skin of all who dared to enter it. It was heartless and bitter, it took any and all victims. That winter in it's own was by far the worst.

Cars honked loudly and aggressively at each other. A chill ran up my spine. A blizzard had begun to form. I had a sense of dread in my stomach. My gut was telling me something was wrong. I ignored it. Behind me, I could see in the mirror, that whoever drove behind me was getting anxious. In front, a truck driver who had large, loose metal rods in the back.

My hands began to sweat. I tightened my grip on the wheel. I flipped on the windshield wipers as the snow began to fall in clumps. Seconds became minutes. I tapped on the steering wheel. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5... My wife next to me became concerned. She looked me over and sighed. I was impatient. I wanted to get home.

A flash. I glanced quickly to my side and back. The anxious driver had pulled into a different lane. The truck driver still remained in front of me. It was getting a bit risky. The metal poles were shaking and causing a ruckus. There was no available room in the other lanes. I fought for a different spot, but I failed in doing so.

Another flash. Before I knew it, I was right. My gut instinct was correct. A metal rod escaped from it's hold and shattered my front window. I quickly turned to the side, not knowing what else to do and collided with the anxious driver. I looked quickly to my side to see if my wife was alright.

I woke up in a cold sweat. The recurring nightmares needed to end, but how? I decided to take therapy, see if I can get described medications while I was there. The pain was just too unbearable.

So I did go see a therapist. I talked out the recurring nightmare and she listened. She prescribed me pills offered to allow me to come back anytime. It didn't make everything go away, but it sure did help.

• • •

A/N:

If you couldn't tell, this passage was about PTSD, full name being post-traumatic stress disorder.

I do not have this myself, so I wouldn't know how it really feels.

If you are currently suffering from a mental illness or think you are, go see a specialist. You can not diagnose yourself, a professional must do so for you.

Mental illness rules:

1.) Mental illnesses are not cute. Do not sexualize/romanticize them.
2.) Mental illnesses are not a joke. Don't make fun of them or people who have them.
3.) Get help if you really do need it. If you are feeling suicidal or unsure of what's going on, visit a mental health specialist, they can help you.
4.) Mental illnesses are not something to boast about. Don't spread it to the world unless it's that obvious and/or is something that needs to be known.

Thank you and please treat each other respectfully.