I Thought It Was Just Me. “It feels like I am the only one.” “Why me?” “Am I crazy?” If you’re nodding your head as you read these statements, you are NOT the only one. Oftentimes we isolate when we are going through something painful, but we also isolate our pain. Dr. Kristin Neff (Youtube.com) reflects wonderful research around the 3 Components of Self-Compassion: Self-Kindness, Mindfulness and Common Humanity . When we are in a place of suffering, we tend to isolate mentally and cut ourselves off from support. We may not all share the same life experiences, but we all do carry the same human emotions: sadness, anger, grief, joy, shame and many more. Dr. Kristin Neff normalizes human suffering in that suffering is a part of life and we don’t have to go through it alone. We are naturally built for human connection and the need to be understood with what we go through in life. All too often feeling like what you are going through is “just you” is one of the many barriers to finding other people who also can relate to either the experience, emotion or the suffering. One example of a shared difficult experience as a country is the COVID-19 pandemic. Many people continue to suffer today from the anxiety, depression and isolation that originated from this pandemic, but few individuals recognize that they are not alone. And it’s not just about seeking professional help, but also that you give yourself the compassion you deserve to reveal your pain and find connection. Kristin Neff’s 3 Components Of Self-Compassion Brief Breakdown: Kindness - Being kind and gentle towards ourselves during times of pain and suffering. Mindfulness - Being aware of the physical, emotional, and mental pain. Common Humanity- Recognizing that painful emotions are a part of being human. “Remember, if you really want to motivate yourself, love is more powerful than fear.” - Dr. Kristin Neff.

World Semicolon Day is on April 16th of every year. Project Semicolon was founded on April 16th, 2013 and is a non-profit movement dedicated to presenting hope to those who are struggling with mental health issues, suicidal thoughts, depression, self-injury, and addiction. According to the Project Semicolon website, “A semicolon is used when an author could have chosen to end their sentence, but chose not to. The author is you and the sentence is your life. When you’re experiencing a mental health problem, supportive and reliable information can change your life. That’s what we do. We empower people to understand their condition and the choices available to cope with the symptoms of their mental illness.” This encourages the idea to discuss personal experience, strength, and hope with others. The timing of the date of World Semicolon Day on April 16th is symbolic to occur in the month of April. According to Merriam-Webster’s dictionary, the month of April is rooted in the Latin word Aprilis meaning “to open.” This could also be in reference to the opening or blossoming of flowers, trees, hope and renewal and a chance to develop, grow, flourish and thrive. The Sunrise Therapy Services Team works with adults, children, adolescents, couples and families every day who struggle with mental illness, depression, anxiety, trauma, thoughts of suicide, thoughts of wanting to engage in self-injurious behavior, and many other challenges. We are passionate about our clinical work and we are dedicated to let our clients and others know that their story isn’t over yet. Our mission is to raise mental health awareness and educate about mental health, the stigma surrounding mental illness and provide resources and ongoing support. As our Sunrise Therapy Services motto states, we are committed to the practice “Where We Learn, Grow, and Change.” What is your story? You too can raise mental health awareness and help stop the mental health stigma. Your story is not over yet! One important way you can play a role in helping someone with mental health issues is to have an open conversation and encourage those who are in need to seek support.