By Destiny Torres
Staff Reporter

When we don’t understand something in a class, it is obvious to raise your hand and ask for clarification. If you break your arm while learning how to ride a bike, the obvious solution is to go to a hospital for treatment. When it comes to mental health, however, we are hesitant to acknowledge when there is a problem, let alone ask for help.

Mental illness is more common than most people know. In the U.S., 19 percent of adults experienced mental illness in 2018, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

More and more people are being open about their mental illness issues, especially with social media. TV and movies are using their platforms to create a conversation regarding mental illness such as “Silver Linings Playbook” and “The Perks of Being a Wallflower.”

Mental health is talked about now more than ever but asking for help is still stigmatized. Of the number of people with a mental illness, only 43 percent receive treatment.

For many people, the idea of asking for help is not an option. It can seem like a much easier alternative to put on a brave face and go through the motions of their day. The words, “I need help” are laced with so much shame that instead they become, “I’m fine.”

Asking for help can feel like a sign of defeat, but in reality, pushing past your demons and getting the help you deserve is an act of courage.

In 2016, I remember feeling like a shell of a person. Finding joy in day-to-day things became more and more difficult resulting in me shutting everyone and everything out. When asked what was bothering me, I’d dismiss any worry with a quick smile and a convincing, “I’m fine.”

I knew I wasn’t. I was silently drowning in a pool of anxiety and depression. No one knew until I finally built up the courage to ask for help.

In my household, therapy is ‘for crazy people’. Sitting on the green couch in my therapist’s office, I thought, ‘I might as well be in a straight-jacket,’

After a few sessions, I was reverting to my old self and I felt like I could breathe again. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness. It’s easy to convince yourself that you should be able to handle all your challenges on your own, but that’s not always the case.

If you would like to learn more about therapy, the Student Health Center at California State University, Dominguez Hills is a great place to start. The office is located between Welch Hall and the University Theater, SHC A-141.