I have been playing with the concept for a couple years now. When helping kids understand why they were made this way, I struggled to find the perfect metaphor until I stumbled upon this.

I am absolutely infuriated with the stigma of mental health. I understand that people do not like to feel different or never want to appear to have “problems.” Guess what ladies and gentlemen, everyone has problems and mental health issues are the rule now, not the exception. As adults, when we show shame or hide that we need help, we send a variety of messages to the children around us.

“Having an imperfect life is bad.”

“Be ashamed if you are different.”

“People don’t like to help each other, keep things to yourself.”

“People will think you are crazy.”

So let us turn away from the word “problem” and look at the work “power.” It is in everyones ability to control the actions of their mind. I know you are skeptical, but hear me out. Thoughts will pop into your head, but you get to choose if you continue with that thought or go another direction. Many of the things that pop into our head do so to protect us, remind us, alert us to address something. This is your super power. Does spider man ask his spidey (how do you even spell that?) sense to tell him things? Does Superman try to hear the cry of every scared person in the city? Does Wonder Woman use her super strength to fight every person in her way? NO! They each have a power, they did not ask for, that they have to figure out. They have to learn when to listen to it and when to use it. They also have to know when it needs to be put to the side for the good of themselves or others.

So you have anxiety……awesome, your brain and body are so driven to survive that it is trying to manage every threat possible. Trust me, there are times this has come in handy, in fact it may have kept you alive. But like many super powers you must learn to manage it. Think of therapy as X-men University for the real world. You are learning when to manage your powers and when to let them loose. Honestly, who here thinks it was a good idea that Wolverine and Rouge let Professor X teach them, anyone want to shame them for gaining control? Better yet, how many kids do you know that wish they had a mutant gene so they could be an X-men?

Not so bad or crazy anymore is it?

It is ok to have an over active body and a brain that considers out of the box ideas. It is ok to be so laid back that you are not bothered. It is ok to be overly sensitive to the feelings of others. It is ok to feel your own feelings intensely. Nobody wants those things to control your life. We all want you in control so you can help the rest of us who do not have that super power. Share with us your super power and how you learned to control it.

It is a wonderful things that people with super powers can find their peace!