During the holiday seasons of my childhood, I can still remember every extended family member and family-friend gasping the words, “Oh you’re just growing up so fast, young man! Where’s the time gone? I remember when you were just a little baby!” Time still felt pretty slow to me back then.
Once I became a father, that feeling changed immediately. It feels like just yesterday that my little girl could fit between my elbow and wrist like a squishy, squealing football. Now she’s a big ol’ three-year-old that tells me stories, cracks jokes, and does tricks on the trampoline! Time flies indeed.
When it comes to our mental health and recovery journeys, many of us have a tendency to let time get the best of us. We get stuck, and it may feel like time is moving on without us as we struggle with our symptoms. Or, more frequently, we put off asking for help until “some other time down the road” and suffer through yet another week of white-knuckled survival mode living.
For example, those of us who experience more serious depression or anxiety may find it extremely difficult to get out of bed each day. A few overslept alarms turns into habitual tardiness at work. A few late start days turns into several unplanned absences in a row. A few absences turns into losing our job, deepening the depression and anxiety tenfold. And the thought of asking for help feels like too much to bear, so we push it off. “Eventually, I’ll find somebody who understands, and I’ll ask for help.” When is eventually? How far down the road do we need to get before the road ends? Your life matters, and time is of the essence.
Another example: those of us who experience problems with substance use may find it difficult to cope with our stress in any other way. The pressures of parenting and working full time and paying bills and managing friendships and keeping up appearances at church and all of it just piles up on our shoulders. So, we have a drink or two to get a buzz and take the edge off. Pretty soon a drink or two every couple days becomes a drink or two every day. Then, a couple drinks isn’t cutting it and two becomes four a day. The drinking becomes habitual, but our kids start saying things like “I don’t like it when mommy/daddy starts acting weird in the evening.” We think things like, “I’ll cut back some next week, it’s no big deal. I’ve got this under control. Things will get better soon and I’ll feel better – I’m fine.” But the drinking continues. How many next weeks will there be? How soon is soon? Your life matters, and time is of the essence.
To put it plainly, life is short. We don’t have the time to waste on not asking for help when we need it. We are human beings with human problems that require human solutions – at the right time. Perhaps, for you, that time is now. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health or substance use problems, and help keeps getting pushed to some other time, The Willow Center can help you starting today. Please give us a call at 317-852-3690.
-Written by Chase Cotten, Community Director
