Mental Health Awareness with Connor Duthie

Hello beautiful people! This month I have decided to share stories of individuals overcoming mental health. It is a great pleasure for me to introduce Connor Duthie, who has created a platform (You Matter Most (https://www.youmattermost.ca/)) spreading awareness about mental health. This is a matter we should be deeply interested because it is by spreading awareness and understanding that we can best ensure to end the stigma. I was going through Connor’s TikTok and I was amazed as to how much I was able to learn. It was through his page that I began researching more about mental health and learning about certain disorders, symptoms and how we can overcome it. I knew at that point that I should contact Connor and ask if he would be willing to answer a few questions and possibly sharing his story. Please take a moment, read Connor’s story below, and help us spread awareness.

Connor: "I woke up one day and realized that my life was beginning to take a dark direction. I would not look at myself in the mirror because I did not like the person that I was becoming. I started asking myself “who am I; what is my purpose?” I was losing myself. When I was 17 years old, I was in a horrific motor vehicle collision that landed me in the hospital for 2 weeks. There was a point where I was completely helpless, afraid, and powerless. At the time, I did not address these feelings and continued to neglect them after I was discharged, by partying and over socializing. Despite growing up in a loving household, with no shortage of family surrounding me, my resilience could not stand up to the physical abuse outside of the home. I was completely disconnected with my mental well-being. I have General Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and Obsessive- Compulsive Disorder (OCD). At times, I am imprisoned by my thoughts and it becomes so overwhelming that I lose the ability to think straight, it is like being in a constant state of fight or flight. I recognized that I would cope by continuing to neglect my thoughts, especially by going to work or just socializing. Not sitting in my thoughts is easier than accepting them. My anxiety comes in the form of an intrusive inner voice, my inner saboteur. Anxiety loves to make me doubt myself and believe that I am a horrendous person. It feeds my paranoid and anxious thoughts that the world is against me. Living with this monster inside of my head led me to lash out on friends and family, and escape to various social settings that involved substance use. I had nights where I was out until the sun rose the next day. I tried to continue functioning in society. I would attend work the next day with minimal sleep and residual effects of substances. I continued to ignore what was happening inside of me. I was scared to face my inner demons. Self-love was an alien concept to me. I hit my all-time low when I could no longer function in society. I did not know how to move forward. In high school, one of my acquaintances committed suicide. The wake of hurt and sadness left behind made me promise myself, that if I ever felt like my life was no longer worth living, I would seek help. I was not going to let myself affect my closest friends and family in such a painful way. At this point, I began to write every single thought out. I found once I got them all out on paper, and out of the tornado in my head, they were easier to navigate. From there, I began to find healthier avenues of coping. This included finding community through church, sports and surrounding myself with people who enriched my life. I went to therapy, began volunteering and addressed my physical concerns head-on. Every day still brings its own unique struggles, especially this year with both my physical and mental health, but I take pride in the small wins each day. I live each day with the intent to make the best of what I have in the current moment. I wanted to share my story to spread awareness about mental health, emphasizing the importance of community. It is okay not to be okay. No matter what judgement you may face, you are not alone and there are people willing to take the time to sit and listen with genuine kindness. I am in a different place in my life now. Looking back at my experiences and what I have been through, I wanted to share my story in a way that would empower others to find a sense of belonging. Mental health problems are shared but help is accessible. People with mental health problems can get better and many recover completely. We must end the stigma, be there for one another, and support each other."

Mental illness indirectly affects everyone at some point in their lives there is still excessive stigma. It is due to this stigma that people are reluctant from speaking about it or seeking help. Mental health is very important and should be taken as seriously as physical illness because they are both equally important for our overall health.

“What mental health needs is more sunlight, more candor, and more unashamed conversation.”

– Glenn Close.