Recovering from mental health challenges: Ask for help

This paid piece is sponsored by Avera Health.

Joslyn Nelson is a woman of many roles and hobbies. She’s a wife, a mother of two sons, a movie lover, a weightlifter — and an advocate for overcoming mental health challenges.

She shares her story, detailing her journey from noticing the initial signs of nervousness and excessive worry to eventually being diagnosed with obsessive compulsive disorder, manic depression and severe anxiety. During one of her low moments, she couldn’t shake away intrusive thoughts that maybe her family would be better off without her.

“It is no different than if you have cancer, heart disease or diabetes,” Nelson explained. “You deserve the best care if you have a mental illness.”

The holiday season in particular can be overwhelming for people managing stress, anxiety, depression or another mental health diagnosis; it’s OK to ask for help.

What’s the best way to remove the stigma around mental health and suicide ideation? Talk openly about our own stories. Use #AskTheQuestion on social media to normalize conversations.