There’s no denying that quarantine has hit a lot of us pretty hard, especially those with previous mental and physical health conditions.

I don’t want to speak on behalf of all of those with mental illnesses, but for me personally, quarantine has been pretty rough. It’s been difficult to figure out how to open up about certain things, such as having little to no motivation or not being able to get out of bed for days at a time unless I’m getting food. To the public, it may look like I’m being lazy and careless, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. I wake up every day with the intention to get work done. I open my laptop in bed and stare at my assignments for hours but everything becomes overwhelming- the text notifications, the emails, the assignments. It often feels like way too much, though I know that to a normal person, it’s all simple enough. It constantly feels as though I’m drowning in assignments and emails and it feels selfish to acknowledge that the lack of my mental health has caused most of these problems. I’m afraid to speak up or ask for help because I’m scared of looking like I’m using it as an excuse, but I know that I probably should have said something to my teachers at some point despite all of those fears.

I’m not writing this out of pity. In fact, I debated on whether or not I should just make up a bunch of small minor inconveniences to write about, but I’d rather bring awareness to mental illness and end the stigma that has been placed on people like me. It’s important to remember that even in times like these, no matter how alone we feel, there’s always someone there to support you, whether you’re aware of it or not. Seeking help has been the biggest part of my journey to love and acceptance of myself and my illnesses and no one should feel ashamed of admitting to this. Despite all of the anxiety and dread I’ve felt during this time, I have a little peace of mind knowing that I can always reach out to someone and that there is nothing wrong in doing so or admitting to having abnormal thoughts, feelings and behaviors.

If you get anything from this article, I hope it’s knowing that you aren’t alone and never will be. Quarantine has been really difficult for a lot of people in many different ways but there are always people who are willing to listen or someone who could relate. Remember that the sun always rises.