By Uzi
Hi, my name’s Uzma but I go by Uzi. I’m currently 20 years old. I’m a mental health advocate and in my second year of recovery. I have struggled with my mental health for most of my life and I didn’t speak up about it until I was 18 years old.
I was silent most of my life, even when I was getting help. For most of my life, it didn’t seem to help me until I finally said something about it and wanted to fix it myself. I had my crisis back in 2021 and started finally taking it seriously and admitted that I needed help. I finally got the help and support that I needed. I learned that I am not my diagnosis, and I can still live a normal life with therapy, a meal plan, and meds because sometimes, we all need a little help. Life goes up and down, left and right, and recovery isn’t linear. I’ve realized that I don’t have to be perfect. Sometimes it’s okay to be overly anxious or worried or to fight to get out of bed. Sometimes it’s okay to have a mental health day; I’m not lazy just because I took a day for myself.
I read a quote that says even if you take a day for yourself, the world can wait for you. Treat it as if you’re sick: drink enough liquids, eat your favorite food, sleep a lot, watch your favorite movie or TV show, and talk to a friend and a trusted adult when you are struggling.
I also struggled with opening up at times. I would always tell my therapist how I was feeling, but then when it came to friends, I didn’t know how to say, “hey, I need help.” I was bullied for most of my life, so I knew how to isolate and not say much. Now I’m more open and I speak my mind. I feel more comfortable speaking on what I think is right and protecting my mental and physical health, and I’m learning to be open with friends and not just my therapist.
There is a rainbow at the end of the rain, and your diagnosis doesn’t define you. I’m a mental health advocate and a student and a mentor and a friend and a relative and much more. Within my advocacy, I can still be authentic, meaning I can still have my good and bad days. I can still share my story and be an advocate and not be perfect and make mistakes and mess up. Taking a gap year is okay and making time for yourself and your mental and physical health is okay too.
I have also learned to help myself first before helping others. It’s okay to ask for help and not be okay and to be open about everything. I continue to learn to help myself before others, or to fill my cup before filling other people’s cups up. I have to continue to ask for help even if I’m scared. I have to remember that I’m human and can share my emotions and I can be authentic, and people will still care and like me.
Uzi is passionate about mental health advocacy and showing people that they can make it out of the darkness and into the light. She also spends her time working for a hockey team and working on her own recovery. She is working on writing her own book and starting a foundation as well as speaking on her podcast and other podcasts. She is a junior in college and likes to spread positivity online.