May is Mental Health Month. Say yes to the 'side quests'

Hi! My name is Gage Miskimen. I’m a Marion City Council member and the Community Engagement Coordinator at Four Oaks. If you recognize my name, it’s because I’m a former journalist, too. And like around 500,000 Iowans each year, I’ve faced challenges with my mental health a time or two.

May is National Mental Health Awareness Month and around 21% of Iowans have experienced a mental illness, according to Mental Health America. That percentage is equal to 503,000. We could fill around seven Kinnick Stadiums with all of us.

You and I are not alone.

Being diagnosed with anxiety and depression, my brain will sometimes try to tell me I am alone or I’m not enough or everyone hates me. For some of you reading this, I’m sure your brain does this sometimes, too. I’ve been to the hospital for frightening anxiety symptoms I didn’t understand: blurry vision, numbing of the arm and face, confusion, etc. I even had a particular moment in recent years where I seriously didn’t want to be here anymore.

But I am here. And if you’re reading this, you’re here too.

If you’re struggling or don’t know where to start, the Linn County Mental Health Access Center is an amazing resource in our community that is now open 24/7 for walk-ins. Director Erin Foster told me that 30% of their patients in the 21-35 age demographic said if they hadn’t gone there when they needed help, they wouldn’t have sought help at all.

I did therapy. I practiced gratitude. I take medication for anxiety. These are all good, important things. I think of it as fitness for my brain because mental health and wellness is physical health and wellness. But there’s no permanent cure. I still feel that physical discomfort or I feel outside of my body at times. And I’m OK with that.

I’ve noticed over the years a lot of us are going through this. Why does it seem like these feelings are becoming more common for all age groups, but especially those in my generation?

Are we still experiencing consequences from the shared trauma and long term social isolation of a pandemic? Maybe it’s partially due to the fact we experience a lot of life through our screens? We’re impacted by algorithms that know we all yearn for connection and community somewhere out there.

But the community isn’t out there. It’s right here. Again, we are in it together.

What has helped me the most recently is finding connection in this community. Not only with being involved in city council and Four Oaks, being able to help others alleviates my anxiety for sure, but also just being open to new experiences.

My friend Tara Templeman taught me to start “saying yes to the side quests” in life. Go to that new play at the local theater. Join a new volunteer group. Play in that softball league. Go out of your way and message that old friend. Intentionally do whatever it takes to push yourself when your instinct is making you want to shutdown and be alone. It works and it feels damn good.

Plus, the side quests in life are really what life is all about after all. Appreciate the little moments, but also go out and create your own for yourself and for others.

Gage Miskimen is a Marion City Council member and the Community Engagement Coordinator at Four Oaks.