May is Mental Health Awareness month

I would say most families and people are affected by mental illness is one way or another. Whether it’s being stricken or having a family member or close friend with mental illness, this much-ignored problem continues to have its clutches from coast-to-coast.
Personally, when I was in high school, I wrestled and ran track and cross-country. I was successful, had lots of friends, a good home with a family that loved me, and really nothing to complain about.
I noticed about my sophomore year I was just unhappy. I couldn’t shake it. I talked to my parents, my coach and even a doctor. Finally, after feeling like I was walking in a never-ending fog, I received an official diagnosis of “depression.” Being 15, I think the diagnosis upset me more than the actually problem. 
I couldn’t be depressed. That was something crazy people had and I certainly didn’t feel crazy. I was just down and tired all of the time.
I made some adjustments in my life and continued with the activities I enjoyed. I stayed on top of my mood and even started taking medication, which I still do today.
Things went fine for a while. Then one day, when I was 18, I was out for a short run. Out of nowhere, the world seemed to spin. I couldn’t catch my breath and I felt as if something terrible was going to happen, but I didn’t know what. 
I stopped running and stood on the side of the road. What was going on?
It slowly dissipated and I walked home.
A year later, I was working in a running shoe store and these feelings returned. Added to these other odd feelings was the certainty that I was having a heart attack. Sweat poured down my face and a co-worker called an ambulance.
I’d just had my first of many panic attacks.
There is so much more to this story, but I’ll stop here. Suffice to say, I’ve had a successful life. Two great sons (they do not have mental illness) and a daughter-in-law and two grandchildren so far.
Here is the reason I share this with you…men need to understand that mental illness happens to them, too. For some reason women have the courage to ask for help. Men, most often, will not. Having mental illness is no different than having diabetes or high blood pressure. People who are diagnosed with mental illness are NOT Norman Bates of “Psycho” fame. They are not going to become a werewolf every full moon.
They have a condition that can be treated. Here is my invitation to men (and women) to seek help for mental illness. I’m sure glad I did.