"I've got a secret for the mad..."

Hello, everyone!

I don't know about you, but when I was younger I would "collect quotes." Whenever I heard or saw a quote, lyric, or saying that resonated with me in some way, I would write it down in a book. I have long since lost my quote notebook, but now I tend to collect quotes in my notes on my phone or by saving a certain song with the lyrics I love in a Spotify playlist.

One quote that I have treasured for a couple years now and still hold close to my heart is actually a lyric from a song by Dodie Clark. Dodie is a bisexual singer/songwriter. She has two YouTube channels where she shares her music and her life with the world. She has publicly shared her journey with discovering her sexuality as well as living with mental illnesses, particularly chronic derealization.

Dodie has a song that I listen to every time I'm feeling down called "Secret For The Mad"

I definitely recommend listening to this song. Some of the lyrics include:

"I've got a secret for the mad

In a little bit of time it won't hurt so bad

And I get that I don't get it

But you will burn right now but then you won't regret it"

"I promise you it'll all make sense again"

"You're at the bottom, this is it

Just get through, you will be fixed

And you think, that I don't get it

But I burned my way through and I don't regret it"

But the most touching and profound lyrics in the whole song are the chorus.

Dodie sings,

"Little things, all the stereotypes

They're gonna help you get through this one night

And there will be a day when you can say you're okay and mean it"

These words never cease to be inspirational and meaningful to me. I've been watching Dodie's videos and listening to her music for years and I know she has struggled. I can empathize with her greatly, and even though she is only a little less than two years older than me, I look up to her. In this song, I know she is trying to reach out to others going through the same struggles. She is reassuring and soft, telling the listener that they will be okay and things will get better even though they can't see it right now. That particular quote means the world to me because of the line "And there will be a day when you can say you're okay and mean it."

So often, we say that we're okay when we're not, and it's comforting to hear someone who's gone through so much say that one day we truly will be okay. It makes me hopeful that someday I won't be so depressed and anxious, that someday there will no longer be days when I can't get out of bed. And I want that for all of you, too.

If anyone is struggling, please know that you'll be alright. As Dodie says, the "little things, all the stereotypes" are what will get you through. It may seem cheesy to some people to write in a journal, talk to a friend about your problems or your thoughts, do breathing exercises, etc., but it's those little things that truly do help. And if you can get through another really hard night, I am proud of you for fighting.

Keep making it through each day, keep talking care of yourself. And if you're in a really dark place right now, please reach out. Talk to someone, whether it be a friend, a family member, or even a stranger. Breathe. Listen to music. Listen to this song, and really take the lyrics to heart. It won't cure you of your mental illness, but it just might give you hope and help you through. And that's really what the song is about.