Monica Lyzzette: A Personal Journey to Mental Well-being

What led you to seeking treatment at LiveWell Counseling?

“At first, I didn’t realize that I even needed treatment, let alone seek help. High school was very difficult emotionally. Most times I was really depressed, but other times I felt really great, like a fog had been lifted and I could do anything. Then I’d wake up and be right back into depression. It was crippling and exhausting. I literally cried for help. I truly did not know what was wrong with me. When I got to college, it became more complicated for me.

“One Sunday last April, I thought about killing myself. I called my mom, crying and telling her that I needed help. I pushed off getting help even after I had another mental breakdown in early June. My anxiety was high, I wasn’t eating, and I was barely sleeping. I was obsessively going to the gym to relieve my depression for an hour or two. Within a month, I stopped doing things that interested me and had constant thoughts of killing myself and the different ways that I could do it. I was scared of myself for so long. When I started to severely lack sleep and hallucinate, I was terrified.

“On July 1, 2016, I began treatment at LiveWell Counseling (CHCC). When I was properly diagnosed with bipolar disorder, I felt relieved, liberated, and horrified. I’m still in treatment at CHCCC, working hard on keeping a safe, positive, and healthy lifestyle.”

How did you learn about LiveWell Counseling?

“I learned about the counseling center through a friend of my mother’s. My mom was helping me find a counseling center that would be a good fit for me in every aspect, so she talked to friends and asked where they sought help.”

What is your treatment plan?

“My treatment consists of weekly talk therapy where I learn about myself and how I can be constructive instead of deconstructive. I have regular meetings with my psychiatrist, and I take medication daily. Most coping methods required me to alter my lifestyle for consistent stability and health. So I exercise more, keep routines, and track my moods in an app on my phone called Stigma.”

What are the greatest benefits you have received from your treatment at CHCCC?

“The greatest benefits I have received from treatment are emotional stability, and learning about and understanding my disorder. For so long I looked at myself as inadequate and disconnected, but now I understand that these were parts of my bipolar disorder. Now that I understand my disorder, I understand these parts of me, and I’m able to accept them and work on them to be consistently better.”

How are you working toward reducing the stigma surrounding mental health?

“My goal is to showcase the mantra of “it gets better.” The stigma surrounding mental health makes it seem like it’s an abomination and if you’re plagued with it, there’s no hope. That’s absolutely not true. I am constantly being as honest and as transparent as possible to show that having a mental disorder isn’t taboo, that you can get better, and that it is extremely important to talk and learn about mental health.

“Mental health is vital. It needs to be taken more seriously because many people are struggling, but are scared to seek help due to the stigma. The stigma can make those who are battling with their disorders and illnesses feel ashamed. Wherever I go, I try to naturally start a conversation about mental health. I’m open to meeting with others to discuss mental health and wellness overall.

“In the future I hope to be a certified mental health advocate for my college, and I would like to be certified in mental health first aid.”

If you or someone you love is struggling with mental illness, we want you to know that we are here to help. Whether it’s depression brought on by life circumstances or a more involved diagnosis, you don’t have to go through it alone. NEED HELP? Call us at (201) 848-5500.