Note: As part of my Day Program, I contribure to the program’s newsletter. In June 2021, that Newsletter transitoned to a monthly basis as much of the elements of the program are back to a in-person status.

Dustin’s Wellness Update

For the month of May, things have been status quo for the most part. I continue to allow time to walk when the weather allows along with managing what I consume
food and drink wise. I am focusing more on my mental health by practicing radical
acceptance and understanding that I need to be happy with the way things are in
my life and accepting things for what they are. There is no reason for me to be miserable or have disregard for caring for myself because I do not have all the things that I wish to have in this world. They will come in due time. I am continuing to lose
weight gradually and in concentration focusing on my needs more than those that
are sought for me. In the month of May I attended the Mind Your Health event at
the YMCA, the Mental Health Awareness Walk and the Health Fair , so by far I am
taking care of my mental and physical health as they go hand in hand to overall wellness.

Dustin’s Mental Health Journey

With the onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic over the past few years, mental health
has been brought to the forefront of society. It is nothing new for me as I have
experienced it in some form all my life. Growing up, it was always seen as a
“problem” when having to go and do activities that required social interaction and
in fact there were times where my mental health did not bring out my best. Even
in this current age, I still face challenges, but one thing is that I never give up!
I must accredit my parents for seeking treatment at an early age and in fact we
went to Pittsburgh to seek treatment and at times it was not best, and this portrayed
challenges in the educational system but I got through it with my parents
help and the numerous professionals, some of which I still interact with every
week. I must express my gratitude to them as I have always had a great respect
for their knowledge and experience and value them as equally as the diagnosis
that I bestow.

It is through them that I have garnered the many skills needed to co-manage my
mental health challenges and function as an independent adult in society with
minimal incident. It has been through accepting the challenges set forth by them
and understanding with their guidance that I would be able to accomplish the
goals that they helped me to set for myself to be the man I am.

If I had not been provided many of the not only professionals but also the services
that I have been offered in the past two and half decades I would not have been
able to accomplish the things that I have done like finish high school, vocational
rehabilitation, community college, obtain part-time employment, independent
living, and a driver’s license to name a few.

There are also the soft skills that come with being autistic that require me as a
member of the community to function in society such as being financially independent,
communicating effectively and making sound decisions in all my matters. Many of these factors were or are made with the guidance in some cases of esteemed mental health professionals who oftentimes are undervalued or undercompensated for many times going the extra mile when they do not have to.

It is always understanding that your mental health must be valued when being
able to live the life that you want and that if you do not hide and seek the proper
treatment and services that you can in order to thrive as an individual, that there
is no shame in seeking whatever you need to be mentally well and just be satisfied
with your well-being. For too long there has been a great deal of stigma of
seeking treatment for mental health challenges, but I see it as a routine part of
life that is just a part of the motions because life can be so much better if you do
the right thing and fight the challenges that you are facing rather than keep them
a secret or hiding the reality of what you are facing. As they say, there is no health
without mental health!