I’m an LGBTQ person who grew up in the Middle East, where I lived far longer than I ever expected to. Throughout my childhood and adolescence, I experienced bombings and conflict firsthand. Those experiences shaped a lot of who I am, but they also left me carrying a heavy emotional load. Over time, the weight of hiding parts of myself and living through constant instability pushed me to a point where I knew I needed to focus on my mental health and get more support. That was the beginning of my journey toward understanding myself better, healing from what I’ve been through, and creating a calmer, safer future for myself.
What helped me focus on my mental health
Moving away from the place I grew up played a huge role in my journey. Once I was outside that environment, the constant noise, chaos, and tension I’d gotten used to were suddenly gone. With that silence came an awareness of how much I had been carrying all this time, how much I had normalized my experiences, and how deeply those experiences had affected me. That space and that clarity helped me finally feel ready to take the first step toward healing.
Understanding what I wanted to heal
Before I started working on my mental health, I wanted to better understand my triggers and the PTSD and anxiety I was dealing with. These things were starting to affect my health, my reactions, and the way I showed up in everyday situations. Even small things could set off intense responses, and I didn’t always know why or how to manage them. It began to spill into my relationships and daily routines, and I realized I needed support in learning how to respond in healthier, more grounded ways.
When I started to see myself healing
There was a moment when I recognized that I was just like every other human being and had gone through abnormal, difficult experiences, and my reactions weren’t a personal flaw. They were responses to trauma. Understanding that what I felt wasn’t “wrong,” but a natural reaction to what I’d lived through, was the first real shift. It helped me release a lot of self-blame and I started seeing myself with more compassion.
What my experience on this healing journey has been like
Now that I’m a couple of years into my journey to better mental health, I feel like I’m able to recognize so much more about myself. I can see my patterns, understand my reactions, and know where they are coming from. Throughout my journey I’ve been able to build a kind of awareness that I didn’t have before, and that alone has made a real difference in how I navigate things.
What I’ve noticed change in myself
I’m not sure I can point to one specific moment where something changed, but I have noticed real growth in myself over time. I’ve become more emotionally aware and better able to understand what I’m feeling and why. I’ve also become more patient, both with myself and with others, and these are all meaningful signs of the strength that has come from this journey.
The tools I’ve learned throughout my mental health journey
One of the most helpful tools I’ve learned is using cold exposure to regulate my nervous system. When I feel anxious or angry, I put an ice pack on my forehead. This quick cold burst helps calm my body down quickly and brings me back to a more grounded state. It’s a simple technique, but it’s made a big difference in helping me manage intense emotions in the moment.
Some of the biggest changes I’ve noticed in myself over time
A big change is that I no longer jump to the idea that something is wrong with me or with someone else. Instead, I respond with curiosity, and I wonder what might have happened to me or to the other person that’s causing this reaction. That shift from self-blame to understanding has changed the way I see myself and the way I respond to others.
What I’m most proud of
I’m most proud of allowing myself to open up and trust the process. It hasn’t always been easy, but choosing to be vulnerable and give this journey a real chance has been a huge step forward for me.
.webp)