Breaking the Silence: Why Mental Health Care Matters More Now Than Ever

By Samantha DuBose, MS. LMFT

In today’s fast-paced world, we often wear stress like a badge of honor. We push

though exhaustion, minimize our emotions, and carry pain silently, often afraid to

burden others or appear weak. But here’s the truth: taking care of your mental

health is not a luxury. It’s a necessity. And asking for support is one of the bravest

things you can do!

As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, I’ve sat with teens grieving losses

they couldn’t put into words, couples navigating betrayal and rebuilding trust and

adults silently carrying trauma that’s decades old. One common thread? Most of

them waited too long to seek help----often believing they had to “handle it on their

own.”

Let’s change that……

We don’t question going to the doctor when we have chest pain or a broken bone.

Yet when wounds are emotional- panic attacks, numbness, rage, shame- we

hesitate. WHY? Because mental health stigma still whispers, “You’re broken. You’re weak. You should be able to handle this.” But emotions are not moral failures. Anxiety is not a character flaw. And depression is not laziness. These are human responses to pain, disconnection, trauma and overwhelm.

MENTAL HEALTH MYTHS I OFTEN HEAR

- “Therapy is for people who are really messed up.”

No. Therapy is for people who want to grow, heal, and be more in tune with

themselves and their relationships.

- “Talking won’t fix anything.”

Talking doesn’t just vent emotion. It organized it. It helps us understand our

patterns, name our needs, and rewrite the beliefs that keep us stuck.

- “I do have trauma.”

Trauma isn’t just what happened to you. It’s also what didn’t happen-the

emotional validation, safety, and love you needed but didn’t receive.

HEALING IS MESS---AND WORTH IT

Healing doesn’t always look like a straight line. Sometimes it looks like:

- Setting boundaries, you used to avoid

- Saying no without guilt

- Crying without needing to explain yourself

- Learning to feel instead of just function

Whether your navigation anxiety, depression, ADHD, relationship issues or simply

trying to reconnect with yourself---you deserve support.

HOW CAN YOU START

- Talk to someone you trust about how you’re feeling.

- Reach out to a licensed mental health professional in your area.

- Follow mental health educators and clinicians on social media

- Be curious, not critical, about your emotional responses.

FINAL THOUGHTS

You don’t have to hit rock bottom to seek therapy. You don’t have to be

“diagnosable” to be worthy of care. You just have to be human—and willing to

show up for yourself in a new way.

Let’s keep normalizing this conversation. Let’s keep showing up for each other.

And let’s remind ourselves that healing isn’t just possible-----It’s our right.

Interested in more conversations like this…. Follow me on Instagram

samdubose_lmft or reach out for a consultation.