In my family, we still refer to my first year of college as “your episode.” That was the time I fell into a major depression, cycled through a few antidepressants, attempted suicide and got diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

It was a harrowing time for me, one filled with not just the highs and lows of bipolar but also the loneliness of an illness that came weighted with stigma and the anxiety of a diagnosis that seemed to mean the ending of everything I’d ever planned–a career, marriage, motherhood.

During that time, I discovered “An Unquiet Mind,” a memoir about living with bipolar by Kay Redfield Jamison. I then discovered writings by Patty Duke. I recognized my racing thoughts and mood swings in each woman’s story.

And those stories gave me hope. They made me believe a future was possible. Helped me to see that a diagnosis wasn’t an ending but an understanding of something I’d struggled with for years. They also showed me coping mechanisms and illustrated the dangers of not taking care of my mental health.

I was a journalism major at the time and had been working in newspapers since I was 11, so I already believed in storytelling. But this experience showed me that stories did more than inform. They could also transform. Because of their stories, I would chart a new path in mental healthcare.

My freshman year of a college was a long, long time ago. Since then, we’ve become much better in sharing stories of mental health. We have famous athletes, musicians and actors talking about their own diagnoses and struggles.

Those stories help to break stigma and normalize talking about mental health. But I strongly believe that we all need to share our tales, whether we’re winning pageant crowns and Olympic medals or leading lives outside the limelight.

As we share our stories, we’ll come to see how common emotional struggles are. We’ll find power not just in connection but also in coming together to improve systems and services for people with mental illness.

Because if you struggle with your mental health, you’re definitely not alone. Mental illness feels isolating, but there is strength in numbers.

Nearly one in five American adults experiences a mental illness in a given year, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.

And more and more Americans—children, teens and adults—report feeling depressed, anxious or worried regularly, according to the National Center of Health Statistics. Those numbers have been steadily rising over the past few years.

Evidence overwhelmingly supports storytelling as an important tool for mental wellness. Listening to stories has been shown to lower anxiety and depression, boost empathy and even increase tolerance to physical pain.  And neurologists have discovered that stories can change our brains, triggering the release of chemicals linked to empathy, connection and communication.

When we tell out stories, we build support systems while dismantling stigma.

And remember, stories don’t have to be told with written words. Photography, music, video and art all provide a means to express emotion and share journeys.

We recently organized the Art of Recovery at Central Rappahannock Regional Library. This annual exhibit features work by artists with mental health challenges. The exhibit culminated in a reception which featured music, poetry and art, all created by people who’ve experienced behavioral health concerns.

Through a variety of methods, artists explored the connection between emotion and creativity and offered a glimpse of recovery, healing and hope. As I wandered through the gallery in awe (I’ve secretly always wished to be artistic) and listened to the music, poetry, chatting and laughter, I felt the same wonder I felt the first time I read “An Unquiet Mind.”

No matter the medium, storytelling holds the power to bring healing and hope, making it a vital part of mental health treatment.

The act of telling stories helps us connect to others, make meaning, organize our lives into a coherent narrative and immerse ourselves in others’ tales. While we share stories, we are also improving our mental health and well-being.

-Barbara Field, Verywell Mind