Meet Janet Masanz

We were lucky to catch up with Janet Masanz recently and have shared our conversation below.

Janet, we are so deeply grateful to you for opening up about your journey with mental health in the hops that it can help someone who might be going through something similar. Can you talk to us about your mental health journey and how you overcame or persisted despite any issues? For readers, please note this is not medical advice, we are not doctors, you should always consult professionals for advice and that this is merely one person sharing their story and experience.

I believe the experience of mental health struggles is inevitable to all. However, the capacity at which mental health effects a person has a lot to do with prior risk factors, protective factors, resiliency, vulnerability, and accountability. It is also important to note that our brain chemistry is vastly different from one another’s, which also plays a role in our mental health.

My experience with mental health struggles showed face in my younger adulthood, around the age of 18. This experience consisted of low self-esteem, high anxiety, impulsive behaviors, and spouts of depression. Coincidentally, I have been in the field of Mental Health since 18 years old as well, playing a myriad of roles. I was often asked how I could struggle in the ways I was, despite the background I held in the helping field- I can say that mental health does not discriminate, even when this is the field you studied for countless years.

I recall many instances in my life where depression and high anxiety took such a toll on my mind, body, and spirit. This toll was draining, all consuming, leaving me with feelings of hopelessness and defeat. In those moments, the ability to lift yourself back up almost seems like an impossible feat. Nonetheless, I was able to overcome these moments, heal the parts of me that required such, persevere and share this hope with others- accountability and vulnerability is what got me through.

Learning to cope with mental health struggles is not easy, there is no miracle that suddenly alleviates our negative past experiences and erases them from our being- it takes daily disciplines and understanding of what we need in the moment to remain out of distress, as well as what we need to heal in order to move forward in a positive manner. Overcoming was a hard process for myself; it meant that I no longer could suppress my emotions- I had to speak about them, I no longer could allow my negative behaviors to be justified- I had to call myself out on them, I couldn’t wait for a better day to come- I had to work day in and out to alleviate the chaos in my mind, I no longer could trust my own thoughts- I had to work through what was evidence and what was my emotions, as well as how to cope with this new processing. Essentially, I had to reconstruct the way I handled my life and with discipline and accountability- stick to the plan that works. This was not a process I did completely on my own, this was with the help of supportive people and a therapist that guided me along the way. In the end, maintaining what I learned and how to deal with life was something only I had control to remain persistent with- all these practices remain in play years later. Today, I am very grateful for the mental strength and healing that I have developed that has changed my life around. I also know, that unless I work on myself daily, my inner peace can be taken away again without consistency.

Dealing with my mental health looks different for every person. For me, dealing with mental health looked like; going to therapy and learning to process traumas, grief, anxiety, depression, tapping into a fitness routine and proper nutrition to fuel my physical body- which changed my mental processes, journaling my inner thoughts, finding a meditative place that brings me peace on all days, connecting with health people and cultivating a sense of vulnerability to speak on my hard times versus suppressing them.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I have been in the field of Mental Health and Addiction treatment for the last 10 years, holding a myriad of roles including; behavioral skills training, psycho-social rehabilitation, home health care, equine specialty, clinical internship and and now practice as an LCSW in the state of Nevada. I currently am the Clinical Director of CrossRoads of Southern Nevada, working with a population 18yrs and older with co-occurring disorders. Additionally, I have a small private practice on the side, speak to UNLV on Geriatric Substance Abuse, and speak to new fire academy recruits on Mental Health and Suicide for LVFFR.

I am very passionate about the topics of mental health and addiction as it is something we all need to speak more about. There has been unceasing stigma regarding mental health and addiction- making it very hard to talk about, understand, and navigate for those experiencing such. I strive to create a safe place within myself and the organization that I work for, that cultivates a true understanding, acceptance, empathy, and compassion for those with these struggles. I believe that everyone has the ability to heal and overcome, but without the proper support team and guidance this can be a very hard thing to do completely on your own. It is a beautiful thing to be apart of someone’s healing journey, to see them at what was once their “rock bottom” and assist them with transforming their lives around into something positive. It is a rewarding feeling to see the broken piece themselves back together and the epiphanies they have when they realize again that life is worth living. It is a feeling that you cannot obtain in any other way.

Outside of work, I am a very adventurous and outdoorsy soul. I love spending my free time in nature- hiking, camping, riding horses, off-roading, etc. Being in nature brings me to a place of serenity, where I realize that in a world so big and beautiful, myself and my struggles are small in comparison- it grounds me back to reality. I love seeing new places, admiring the scenery and disconnecting with the “hustle and bustle,” of day to day life. I think that is necessary for all. Additionally, I love spending time with my family and friends- connecting with the ones that love me on purpose.

As of recent, I have been branching out to speak to others on the topic of mental health and addiction, and hope to have the chances to spread my knowledge further and be apart of breaking the stigma.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Of the qualities that I uphold, the three that have been the most impactful on my life are; resiliency, accountability, and understanding.

Resiliency is the ability to withstand or recover quickly from difficult times. There have been moments of hopelessness in my life that could have caused me to never push forward. However, I have always had some degree of resiliency that allowed me to remain optimistic in even the most trying times. The ability to believe that life is inherently good, that I will be safe and secure in myself, that all will be well- this has carried me through all bad days. I have always been told that the silver linings will come, I keep that notion at the forefront of my mind when things become difficult, my resiliency and trust in the process do the rest.

Accountability is the ability to take ownership and responsibility of yourself and what you should be doing. In the midst of hard times I often feel that it is easiest for us to place blame on others and why something occurred, versus taking a look in the mirror and calling our own selves out. I have to be able to acknowledge my downfalls in order to progress, grow, and heal. Accountability has allowed me to understand that the only thing in life I can control is myself- if I want to feel better physically/mentally I need to do things that contribute to my health, if I want to feel more supported I need to surround myself with people who support me, If I want people to trust in me to do what I say I will do- I need to be a person of my word, If I want to prevent burnout- I need to be honest with myself and my needs to maintain healthy stress levels.

Understanding is the ability to comprehend something. It is really important in life that we do not have a one track mind and have the mental flexibility to see things from the perceptions of others. I believe that lack of understanding can cause us increased conflict, disturbance of our inner peace, and keep us in a position where growth will be more difficult. Understanding does not mean we have to agree, but it means that I can understand your view point in a respectful way while still having my own thoughts as well. The ability I have to understand others allows me to be more open minded, forgiving, supportive, and connected. Opening your mind to new thoughts, ideas, and perceptions only allows you to grow more in life because your ability to navigate hard conversations is no longer ego driven, but driven by the desire to work with others for the best outcome.

I feel that the best way to improve on these qualities is by taking time for yourself each day, to ask what you could’ve done better. It is important to have conversations with yourself and acknowledge your weak areas and process what could’ve been different. Cultivate a mindset that doesn’t attack itself, but one that allows you to be real with yourself and find positive solutions for these weak areas. You have to have the ability to slow down and check in with yourself. When you start to have this type of narrative, finding the coping mechanisms that work for you will slowly start coming into play. Stay disciplined to your needs, connect with others that help you grow, read books that allow you to learn about the mind. Each day I wake up the only plan I have is to be 1% better than the day before- if you keep striving and working to be better all around, the results come.

Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?

When I feel overwhelmed, my mind becomes what I like to describe as a “yarn ball,” that is unraveling in the most inconvenient knotted way. If I try to suppress this feeling or get over it quickly, I usually create a mess that is harder to deal with. In these moments, I have to listen to my mind and body, I have to slow down and really ask myself what is going on in the moment; what is my physical body saying, what is my mind saying, is there and emotion driving my behaviors and what is that emotion/why did it come up? After slowing down and figuring out what is going on with me, I can then put into play the coping tool that will work for me.

For example; if I am very overwhelmed, the question would then be why? If the answer is because of work and a large amount of tasks that need to be complete then the solution would be to organize by priority, talk to my supervisor on what is most important in the moment, create time-lines, and understand that it all does not have to be done in that moment. Organization would help alleviate that feeling. Perhaps the answer is because of personal conflict- why did this conflict occur, what emotion is coming up? Once I have identified that I would tap into communication and reach out to the person to mediate the situation so that I could alleviate the feeling of being overwhelmed. Personally, I do not like to sit with negative emotions for too long, I like to find a solution that honors myself so that I can feel at peace.

In short:
1) slow down and process what is going on in the moment and why
2) identify the need to alleviate the current emotion
3) implement the coping skill
4) check back in with myself after to see how I feel.

Image Credits

N/A