When we think about healing from mental health struggles, we often focus on things like therapy, medication, and self-care routines. But one of the most important—and often overlooked—factors in our mental wellness is the environment we’re in. Who we surround ourselves with can make or break our ability to heal and grow.
For years, I didn’t realize how much my surroundings were contributing to my pain. I thought I could "tough it out" or that things would change over time, but the reality was, I was stuck in a cycle of negativity because the people in my life weren’t helping me heal. In fact, they were doing the opposite—they were holding me back.
There’s a lot of power in the company we keep. The conversations we have, the energy we absorb, and the attitudes of those around us all play a significant role in shaping our mindset. When we’re surrounded by people who see us only through the lens of our mental illness or who constantly reinforce negative labels, it becomes incredibly hard to move forward. Toxic environments keep us trapped, making it difficult to see beyond the pain and shame.
At some point, I realized that staying in these environments wasn’t just affecting my mood—it was affecting my entire mental health journey. I had to acknowledge that the relationships and settings I was in weren’t contributing to my growth. They were doing the opposite, reinforcing the idea that I was broken, "crazy," and incapable of change.
Making the decision to step away from toxic people and environments was one of the hardest but most necessary steps in my recovery. It wasn’t easy. These were people I’d known for years, people I once trusted, and places where I thought I belonged. But I had to face the truth: no amount of therapy or medication was going to work if I continued to surround myself with negativity.
The thing about toxic environments is that they feed on our insecurities. They make us question our worth, doubt our progress, and believe that we’ll never truly get better. But here’s the truth I had to learn the hard way: just like drugs or alcohol, toxic environments can become addictions. We get used to the familiarity of the pain, the comfort of being around people who "know" us, even if that knowledge is skewed or damaging.
Changing my surroundings was like detoxing from a bad habit. It wasn’t something I could do overnight, and it came with withdrawal symptoms—loneliness, doubt, fear of the unknown. But the more distance I put between myself and those toxic relationships, the more I began to see just how much they were holding me back.
It’s not easy to walk away from people or environments you’ve known for a long time. But sometimes, the only way to truly heal is to step away from what’s keeping you stuck. The people we surround ourselves with should support our growth, not hinder it. They should see us for who we are—our whole selves, not just our struggles.
If you find yourself in a space where you feel like you can’t move forward, take a hard look at your surroundings. Ask yourself: Are the people around you lifting you up, or are they keeping you down? Are they reinforcing your healing, or are they reinforcing the labels and stigma you’re trying to break free from?
Healing doesn’t just happen in a vacuum—it happens in the right environment, with the right people. Surround yourself with those who see your potential, who believe in your ability to heal, and who encourage your growth. Because sometimes, the first step in strengthening your mindset is changing the people and places around you.
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