For a long time, mental health was never a topic of discussion and never had any headlines in the media.
No celebrities or professional athletes spoke about what the pressure and high-stress environments were doing to their mental health. Like many of us around the world, they tried to manage and cope in silence, afraid to open up about their mental health experiences and reach out for help — especially when they needed it the most — until now! 1
It’s okay to not be okay; a new shift has started with top-performing athletes such as Simone Biles and Naomi Osaka.
They have taken action and decided to speak out about mental health and prioritized their health above all else.Their powerful messages came at the perfect time as millions of people across the globe are battling mental health due to the pandemic.
By prioritizing their mental health, these athletes have demonstrated that it’s okay to be vulnerable and, more importantly, that it’s okay not to be okay. Both athletes also showed that it’s okay to admit you’re struggling, acknowledge what you need, and give yourself the time and space to heal no matter what the stakes.
By putting their mental health needs first, Biles and Osaka have brought immeasurable awareness to mental health and have shown that they are simply human, just like the rest of us.
“I say put mental health first…it’s OK sometimes to even sit out the big competitions to focus on yourself, because it shows how strong of a competitor and person that you really are — rather than just battle through it.”
– Simone Biles
Olympic Gymnast
“…I do hope that people can relate and understand it’s O.K. to not be O.K., and it’s O.K. to talk about it. There are people who can help, and there is usually light at the end of any tunnel.”
– Naomi Osaka
Professional Tennis Player
Listen to your body for the cues, while not all of us are professional athletes or Hollywood superstars, we all live through high-stress situations and can be exposed to high-stress environments.
It’s important to note that we all have a different threshold for how much stress we can handle without being harmful. When you start feeling the following signs, it might be time to back down for a while and focus on healing:
- New skin conditions or flare-ups
- Frequent headaches
- Weakened immune system
- Difficulty sleeping/ insomnia
- Decreased libido
- Digestive issues and changes in appetite
- Hairloss
- Weight gain 1
Check out some stories from our own team!
You know yourself best! If you feel you need to take a break, or you aren’t feeling right, or you feel you are struggling under pressure, speak out. Identifying that you need help, time, or a break is the first step to improve your mental health. Check out some stories from our patients on how they learned to be their own mental health advocates.
“Being a first-generation immigrant from Eastern Europe, I was taught to work hard and rest when I’m retired. When I entered the workforce, I was determined to make my parents proud and always be the hardest worker in the room. I worked a demanding full-time corporate job and maintained multiple “side hustles,” working 60+ hours a week, including nights, weekends, and holidays. In a couple of months, I started to notice I was losing hair, developing nasty migraines, and started getting panic attacks.
As time went on, things got worse and I hid it; no one knew what I was going through. I assumed it would go away and that I’m strong enough just to push on. On my way home one night after work late, I started to have a panic attack while driving home, which was more intense than any others I had. It was the wake-up call I needed to realize how out of control my mental health was. While I continue to work on my mental health, my biggest takeaways from this time in my life was not to ignore the little signs and that overworking yourself is not a badge of honor by any means. Make time for you to heal and invest in your mental health because it will catch up to you eventually.”
-Livia A.
Social and Campaigns Manager at GeniusRx
Mental Health Is Health, And It Matters!
Here at GeniusRx, we know mental health is health, and it matters! We are happy to provide you with support, resources, and affordable FDA-approved medications like fluoxetine and Bupropion that help you feel better faster. We know advocating for your mental health can be difficult but know our team is always here for you and ready to help.
Try contacting us today or visiting our website to chat with one of our experienced pharmacists or to place an order.
Data and information from:
(1) Healthline.com
