Why is mental health important?

The truth is, I never gave my mental health the importance it deserved.

This largely comes from my childhood and the way my parents handled emotions. I wouldn’t say they were negligent, but I grew up in an environment where my feelings were constantly minimized.

My father couldn’t stand to see me cry when I was eight, because to him, that was “unmanly.” My mother, on the other hand, used to tell me that I had no right to feel sad — that even if I was struggling, I had no justification for showing it. On top of that were my father’s angry outbursts and the coldness of a mother who was never able to give me a hug throughout my childhood.

Now, at 18, I’ve tried to move forward, but I know all of this left a deep mark on me. There was a time during the pandemic when I truly believed life wasn’t worth living. I remember one day in particular: my father threw a weight at me just because I hadn’t dried the clothes. I cried, but in that moment, I also made an important decision — that I wasn’t going to live for them, but for myself.

Recently, I went to a psychologist, only for my parents to ridicule me for it. Still, I realized that seeking help isn’t something to be ashamed of — it’s an act of courage.

Sometimes I feel inadequate, because living with them, all they see are my flaws and mistakes. But I keep studying, taking courses, and now I’m also looking for a job. My goal is clear: to move out and start over — far away from the environment that caused me so much pain.