Mental Health Transparency

Hello there,

I’ve been meaning to write this post for a while, but wanted to be sure I felt ready to say it in the best way possible.

I strive to be transparent in all areas of my life, especially working with music and people. I aim to always be a positive force in the community, though I am fully aware of my ability to fall short of those goals because… I am a human being.

So, here goes.

I struggle with Major Depression and Anxiety. It impacts me daily, but for me, it revolves heavily around my ovulation and menstruation cycles.

After working with many different therapists over the course of 6 years (and settling on a proper dosage of anti-depressants) I have come to terms and accepted these parts of myself, and still give room for them to continually evolve.

There are times when these parts of me feel like a disability, but there are other times when I feel unencumbered with my struggles. I’ve worked with my therapists and trusted family and friends to let go of the shame and embarrassment I’ve felt in the past about my depression and anxiety. Everyday, I learn to accept and love those parts of me (like a yin-yang, dark and light), overcome my fears, and move forward the best way possible.

There are times when I am so affected by my pain that I will have to cancel or reschedule lessons. I used to get really down on myself about these times, or needing to take a mental health day. But, I always find that my students and their families are always so understanding, and so I’ve learned to open up more and allow myself to be vulnerable. Also, I practice constantly checking-in with myself and prioritizing my mental health whenever I can.

It’s such a big part of my day-to-day life, and my hope isn’t to garner any pity or sympathy, but rather understanding. I want to be open and share things that might feel awkward or “taboo” in hopes that maybe it will help someone else who resonates with it. That’s a big reason why I became a music teacher as well. I’m a sensitive, caring, deep soul for a reason and I utilize music as a way to express, release, and share that with others. I’m a full believer in music as a healing mechanism.

I hope this helps you understand me a little better, not just as a music teacher, but as an actual human being with struggles, pains and troubles like we all have. I am open to speaking more about this on a one-on-one basis, so please reach out to me. Thank you so so much for sharing in this moment with me and I hope this inspires you to live your life fully, wholly, unabashedly.

Sincerely,

JD Thomas