So much has happened in the last few months. One of the biggest things was the understanding of having to take care of myself and get out of the past cycles that I was experiencing from not taking care of my mental health the past six years. While I have many other circumstances with family going on in the present moment, now, more than ever, I must realize that it is important to break the old cycle of bad habits I had when I was not taking care of myself.

Life the past two months has been all about change. Change happens quickly and quite often anymore due to misinformation and miseducation from systems that must provide care to myself and my family. It can be difficult to understand what needs to be undertaken and how to go about things. Likewise, there are times when I need to help my parents with things. This includes making sacrifices and not being able to adhere to the routine that I would like to.

However, one thing that must be strict about the routine is the fact that I need to take my medication as prescribed. Since being prescribed it over two and a half decades ago, my parents have instilled this fact within me and as much I had known this over the years, I had ignored the seriousness of it until about a month ago. Now that I have again fully understood the necessity of having to take my medication and how crucial it is to my mental health, along with understanding the need to do other things to cope with challenging situations, I have a responsibility to take care of myself even better.

It is knowing that when past situations arise when it comes to eliminating old patterns that I had once fell prey to and doing what is needed to be done according to what I have been educated to do as far as taking my medication, something that I should have done all along. It is also important to understand and recognize that there are going to be times when things are too much for me and it is going to be important for me to take a break from what I must do to care for myself, so my mood remains regulated.

While indeed I have seen and understood that medication plays a crucial role in my mental health treatment, it is also understanding that it is not the only player in providing optimum care in such. It is important  to explore and work with others along with learning with the tools that I have today to best find ways to best manage the challenges that I face.

I must realize that it has been three decades since having my initial challenges and it is more acceptable and even more appropriate to care for myself when things get too much. In fact, others would appreciate it if I would instead react in a negative manner as I have for most of my life.

I have become more aware of when things are challenging, it is just the fear of having to speak up and know when I need to step away from something or do what I need to do when something is challenging along with properly addressing my challenges with those who may be unfamiliar with them.

It is important to not get into the old habits that I have gotten into and start to be more initiative-taking by working to find solutions when things happen that present a challenge to my mental health. It is knowing that regardless of what my urges want me to do because I experience feelings of anger or dissent about having to do things like take medication or step aside to take care of myself so I can be best around those that need me, I must understand that it is more important to do what I need to do instead of ignoring the need to care for myself in the ways that I need to.