Thread by @hwbhatti

6 years ago I was severely depressed.

It took me more than a year to recover.

Last year, I sold my startup.

It's been a difficult & rewarding journey.

I want to share 5 things I learned about mental health.

1. Rebuild confidence by setting realistic goals.

When you're recovering, your belief in yourself is shaken.

Rebuilding this belief is key on your path to recovery.

Push yourself slowly when you feel ready.

I needed a few months before I felt ready to take on anything.

Once I was ready, I pushed myself slowly.

I worked my way into an internship.

I signed up to take the GMAT.

I set goals that weren't intimidating but still nudged me in the right direction.

2. Acceptance > Revisiting the past

Life is a rollercoaster.

Things don't always go your way.

Hindsight makes you realize that a lot of bad breaks were blessings in disguise.

I had one big goal during my time at college:

Getting into a top consulting firm.

I got rejected in every single interview.

I didn't know it at the time, but these rejections would lead me to my path in entrepreneurship.

3. Be honest and authentic.

The world is full of opportunities.

Not all of them are right for you.

Don't force yourself into things that don't vibe with you.

Being authentic and honest may not be easy.

But it is the best pathway for your emotional and mental health.

When you're authentic on the outside and honest on the inside, you will uncover things that give you energy.

4. Acknowledge your depression.

We hide away from our failures and only celebrate successes.

It's important to make space for negative feelings.

Acknowledging the wound is the first step to recovery.

I grew up believing depression is a sign of weakness.

Especially for men.

I had to retrain myself to acknowledge my depression.

I shared these feelings with professionals & close friends.

These conversations built the foundations for my recovery.

5. Build your tribe.

Develop deep relationships.

Give back as often as you can.

Your family and closest friends will help you pick yourself up when you are at your lowest.

I was in college when my mental health started deteriorating.

My first call was to my mother.

I still remember what she said to me:

"Come home and take a break."

That break was pivotal in my recovery.

To sum it up, there will be rough times.

Give yourself time to recover.

You will come back stronger.

It was difficult but cathartic writing this thread.

I hope it resonated with some of you.

Feel free to DM me at @hwbhatti if you want to chat.