The Power of You : Recognizing the Hope in Recovery

The Power of You : Recognizing the Hope in Recovery

By: Joy Medina

As some may know, the month of September is recognized as National Suicide Prevention Month and National Recovery Month. According to the CDC, “Suicide is a leading cause of death in the United States, with 45,979 deaths in 2020. This is about one death every 11 minutes”. Disclaimer, this is a serious topic and this article is not to make light of anyone’s situation or experience, but rather offer encouragement, resources and support around a heavy topic such as this.   With this in mind, please don’t hesitate to reach out if you or a loved one is in a crisis at the 988 Suicide and Crisis Hotline. You can call/ text 988 or chat on 988lifeline.org. Remember, you are not alone. If you or a loved one is struggling with drug abuse or is in recovery, a great resource is , https://lifeisgreaterthandrugs.com/.

In a world full of social media and comparison it’s so important to recognize the power and hope that lies in being you. What does that mean?  It means to realize and highlight your individuality and the characteristics that only you can bring to the table. An article by inverse.com states, “People have a core need to know they are significant to others and it is central to how people see themselves at an identity level. I maintain that you really can’t be satisfied in life without the feeling of matter to others”. Everyone was made uniquely and understanding that can provide hope to carry on in the midst of living. 

When it comes to understanding your own strengths and the power that they can give you, some things that one could consider is taking one’s adversities and failures and using them as motivation, making a list of your strengths and personal skills, confronting your weaknesses to realize that you are only human, listening to your inner voice, and most importantly, staying true to who you are. By doing all of these things, it can serve as a reminder to oneself and those around them that we all have something unique to bring to this world.

Sometimes it’s difficult to identify our own strengths, but you might start by reflecting on a few questions: What are some things I’m good at? What compliments have I received? What do I like about myself? What challenges have I overcome? In what ways have I helped others in the past? What things make me unique? What do I value the most? What are some times where I’ve made others happy? These questions form the basis of a useful worksheet on therapistaid.com (note: Therapistaid has lots of great material, but it is not a replacement for therapy with a professional). If these questions are difficult to answer on your own, it may be worth asking trusted others in your life for their input. 

Some other tips on realizing one’s worth and sense that they matter could be listening to podcasts, reading stories of incredible things that people have done for others, traveling the world, and most importantly just normalizing this experience of feeling lost or isolated because everyone can feel this way at some point in their life. Overall, never lose sight of the goodness in others and this world, while it may seem challenging sometimes, there is always a better tomorrow coming. If you or a loved one is in need of a gentle reminder that they matter, a great organization, Find Your Anchor, is able to provide you with a box that represents finding your anchor in a world where you may feel unsteady. 

If you’re curious about other ways to improve your mental health and get connected with the Orange County mental wellness community, check out more about Connect-OC at connect-oc.org, sign up for our newsletter, join our monthly coalition meetings (we now have a Young Adult Advisory Meeting!), and follow us on Instagram (@connect_oc)! Connect-OC, a program of Partners 4 Wellness, is dedicated to promoting mental health resources for young adults ages 16-24 in Orange County.  In addition, take a moment to explore California’s ongoing Mental Health Movement “Take Action For Mental Health”, and programs offered through the OC Health Care Agency, and Stigma Free OC. If you are interested in mental health resources available to the K-12 population, check out the Orange County Student Mental Health Resource Directory.