Hi Everybody! My name is Franklin. I'm 38 years old. I have a beautiful family. I've been married for 12 years and have two wonderful kids. We live in the beautiful state of Colorado. I love being outdoors, especially with friends and family.
Q.) How has mental health/illness impacted your life?
A.) Deep breath. This is a hard question for me to answer (and admit to). I've always lived in a fight-or-flight state. I've grown used to the stress and didn't know how it was affecting me. Until recently, I managed to get by as a high-functioning person. However, stress compounds overtime. It builds up in your system like mercury. If left unchecked, it can be poisonous. That's what happened with me. I burned the candle at both ends and didn't take care of myself. I found myself experiencing sharp mood swings from happy to depressed. Sometimes it felt like I couldn't breath. I was demotivated and not finding joy where I should be. I found myself working more and harder, but never feeling productive.
Q.) What are your positive outlets and how did you discover them?
A.) Counseling. Being outdoors. Working out. Prayer and worship.
Counseling was a matter of necessity. Being outdoors is something that has always filled my cup--just hard to prioritize. Working out is something I've always enjoyed. There's something about lifting heavy weights. It's like it anchors all the constellations of emotions and thoughts in my mind. I imagine it's why people may like weighted blankets. Heavy weights keep me from floating away. Prayer and worship are also an important outlet. Reminding myself of who God says He is and who he says I am is vital.
Q.) Do you think nature plays an important part in recovering from mental illnesses?
A.) Hell yeah. It's beautiful, inspiring, simple. It's such a departure from normal life. No service. No Instagram. No Facebook. It takes me out of my mind and into my body. It helps me to be present to my circumstances. It's a great respite from the hustle and bustle and a great way to bounce back.
Q.) Who/what do you endure for?
A.) God, family and friends.
Q.) How do you feel that social media is impacting people’s mental health?
A.) Balance, right? With healthy boundaries, social media is innocuous. The problem is it's so addictive and often times presents an idealistic view of life. It's hard to see or understand what's behind the picture. On the surface, it's all smiles, but there's so much more to the story. I think social media has played a significant role in how we relate with people. Social skills and relating with people face to face is important. It's part of living authentically and being vulnerable.
Q.) What’s your favorite National Park, and why? Or what place have you always wanted to visit?
A.) There is and will always be a special place in my heart for Eldora, CO. For the last 10+ years, it's where my best friend and I have winter camped. It's a place we test our resolve and build up our friendship. Sometimes we dig out a snow cave and sleep in the snow. Other times, we really pushed ourselves and built a simple shelter, exposed to the elements. We always come out both loving and hating the experience. We go back every year learning something about ourselves, our friendship, and life. It's also a great motivator to get more gear to make the next trip better.
Q.) Do you prefer to explore the forest, ocean, desert, etc?
A.) Forests and mountains for sure! My favorite memories are spending time in the redwood groves of Northern California, Oregon and Washington. Forests carry a sense of adventure and majesty. I love reaching a peak and looking out and appreciating the beauty and majesty of nature.
Q.) What is something that someone has said to you that has always stuck with you when overcoming hard times?
A.) Be kind to yourself. It's simple. Kindness can soften the hardest circumstances. It's a choice. You have to trade praise for heaviness; beauty for ashes; joy for mourning. Be kind. Received kindness.
Q.) What advice would you give someone that is struggling?
A.) Ask for help. Understand what triggers you. Breath. Be okay with mistakes. Surround yourself with loving and caring people. Progress is made in the valley. Know that you are loved, you are precious, and you are worthy.
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