As survivors of not only mental disorders, but suicide attempts, we wanted to share our experiences through the recovery process and how we managed to decide to stay another day. The process of battling and overcoming mental illness is one that can feel impossible at times. You can feel stuck, helpless, exhausted, and ready to give up—but your story doesn’t have to end here.
While there is no single recovery plan that works for everyone, a great first step you can take is reaching out. Reaching out to a friend, a family member, or a professional is not a sign of defeat, but a step in the right direction. You do not have to have the perfect words, explain everything you are feeling, or know exactly what you need. Sometimes, simply letting someone know that you are struggling can be the beginning of something better.
If you aren’t comfortable reaching out, push yourself to make a personal reflection. Focus on yourself and what you need. When dealing with mental illness, sometimes it is okay to be selfish. It is human nature to want to help others, but in order to do that, you also need to learn how to care for yourself. Give yourself the same patience, understanding, and kindness that you would give to someone you care about.
Recovery does not always happen in a straight line. There may be days when you feel like yourself again and days when simply getting through the day feels like an accomplishment. Both are progress. A difficult day does not erase how far you have come, and asking for help does not make you weak.
Most importantly, remember that you are part of a community much larger than you may realize. There are people fighting battles similar to yours every single day. There are people who understand what it feels like to believe that things will never get better—and who are still here today. Your struggles may be personal, but you do not have to face them alone.
We cannot promise that tomorrow will be perfect. We cannot promise that every problem will disappear. But tomorrow is another opportunity: another conversation, another laugh, another person to meet, another memory to make, and another chance for things to change.
Your life is more than its hardest moments. Your mental illness does not define who you are, and struggling does not make you any less deserving of happiness, connection, or a future.
Sometimes, choosing to stay does not mean knowing exactly what you are staying for. Sometimes, it simply means giving tomorrow a chance.
Stay another day. See what tomorrow brings.
