Debbie Does Push-ups! Day 15

70 Push-Ups & The Power of the Story (My story)

Dear Diary,

Today’s push-up goal is 70, representing the 70% of people with mental health conditions who believe the media contributes to stigma and discrimination.  That means most people living with mental health challenges feel that the way these topics are talked about in the world makes things harder, not easier.  And honestly … when you think about it, that makes sense.

The media is powerful. It shapes what we believe, what we fear, and what we think is normal. If the loudest stories we hear connect mental health to violence, instability, or failure, our brains start linking those things together automatically. Not because we’re bad people.  Because repetition works.  Our minds are like sponges.  If every headline paints the same picture, it becomes the story we expect. Mental illness becomes something people whisper about. Something families hide. Something individuals feel like they have to push through alone.  Then there’s silence.  Where stigma grows. The reality is, most people struggling with mental health aren’t dangerous or unstable or incapable. They’re your coworker showing up tired but trying. Your friend cancelling plans because their anxiety is overwhelming that day. The parent doing their best while running on empty.  Regular people. Regular lives.  Just carrying something extra.

I saw firsthand how powerful messaging can be during Covid, especially for my dad.  He already struggled with his mental health, and when the messaging around safety, vaccines, and social distancing was everywhere, he absorbed it deeply. Way deeper than most people. He became super paranoid of getting sick. He barely left the house for a long time, was constantly worried, constantly on edge, trying to control something that felt uncontrollable.  He even went to the doctor asking for extra protection (vaccines) on top of other medications that he was already taking, (which they approved somehow) which interfered with his other meds, which made him sicker and sicker, mentally and physically.  I remember thinking at the time how differently information lands depending on where someone’s mental health is. For some people it’s guidance. For others it becomes fear. For others it becomes overwhelming.  That’s the thing about messaging. It doesn’t land the same for everyone.  That’s why it matters how stories are told.  Language is powerful.  And the media doesn’t just have the power to reinforce stigma.  It has the power to reduce it too.

When we see stories of recovery, therapy, people speaking openly, families supporting each other; something shifts. It builds understanding. It makes people feel less alone. And we don’t even have to look at the news to see how these stories get shaped.  Think about movies and TV shows. How often is the unstable character “psycho”? The villain is the one with the mental breakdown. The unpredictable person is the one everyone fears. The “crazy ex.” The “deranged neighbour.” Mental health struggles get turned into personality traits or punchlines.  It’s subtle, but it adds up. And when those are the stories we see constantly, our brains start linking mental illness with danger, drama, or something to avoid; not with regular people managing life the best they can. I don’t think most writers or creators are trying to reinforce stigma intentionally. They’re telling stories. Trying to entertain. Using shorthand to show who the bad guy is.  But those shortcuts stick.  They shape how we talk, how we react and how safe (or not) people feel being honest about what they’re going through.  And it’s not just traditional media either. 

Social media plays a role too.  On Instagram, life usually looks filtered, productive, glowing, and emotionally tidy. People post the workout, the smoothie, the smiling selfie, the win!  What we don’t see are the panic attacks, the therapy sessions, the crying in the car, the “I barely made it through today” moments.  So if someone is struggling and scrolling, it can feel like everyone else is coping better. Like they’re the only one finding things hard. Like they should be handling it quietly.  That gap between real life and highlight-reel life can make people feel even more alone.  Sometimes it’s the difference between someone reaching out for help … or staying silent because they think they should just handle it.

And it’s not only big headlines that matter. It’s every day language too. The jokes we choose not to make. The labels we stop using. The way we talk about people instead of defining them by a condition.  Words shape perception.  Perception shapes culture.  Culture shapes whether people feel safe asking for help.     

Last fall, I started seeing a therapist and even as I’m writing this, I’m thinking, “I’m not sure I’m fully comfortable sharing this.  No one knows I’ve been talking with a therapist, except Rui.”  Now you know.  Because, if I’m writing about this topic and not able to talk about myself as a real life example, that just makes me a hypocrite and part of the problem, not the solution. So, here I am. Honestly, I think everyone should see a therapist.  Mine is awesome.  I chat with her bi-weekly for 45 minutes (although we took a little break because she doubled her prices), I’ll connect with her again soon for shorter sessions maybe, because I know it’s good for me.  There’s a lot of introspection. How certain things from my past shape my present moment, my patterns, my beliefs, my fears, my life, myself!  If we don’t understand ourselves, how are we supposed to understand others and live a healthy and balanced life?  Teachers need teachers, mentors need mentors, coaches need coaches, yoga instructors need yoga instructors.

Yoga always brings me back to awareness. Not just of breath or body, but of how we show up in the world. Awareness of assumptions. Awareness of language. Awareness of the stories we repeat without realizing it. Awareness of ourselves. When we change the story, we make room for people to feel seen instead of judged. 

Back to push-ups! Today’s 70 push-ups aren’t just about physical strength.  They’re about choosing understanding over assumption.  Listening instead of labeling.  And remembering that behind every statistic is a real person who just wants to feel supported, not defined.

And that’s something we can all be part of.

Maybe the strongest thing we can build isn’t muscles.

It’s a world where people don’t have to hide what they’re carrying.

If today’s strength looked like one push-up, a deep breath, or simply getting through the day… it counts. 

Yoga Debb

Building strength, mindset, and real-life consistency; one breath at a time 💗