Struggling with mental health makes you feel alone and like things will never get better. You hold things in thinking no one will understand or care. I want to be the person someone knows who will always care, listen without judgment, and do nothing less than be their cheerleader as they walk their journey to mental wellness.

I am a firm believer in telling someone, “I’ve been there.” There were times where I gave up hope in myself and in my mental health journey, but I was able to get well enough to serve others who have lost hope. I will instill hope by showing friends that it is never too late to make a change in your life and that goes for every challenge you may face. Recovery happens when you are dedicated to getting to a better place and understand exactly what recovery looks like. Recovery takes time, hard work, will not be flawless, and is unique to you. You may feel like you’ve gone back a step or two, but you pick up lessons along the way and use them as momentum to continue moving forward. Resilience happens when we get to that state of going backwards or you’re faced with a challenge. All the knowledge and practices you’ve picked up on your journey are put to the test and you “bounce back” by implementing them.

Resiliency is a great way to show your strength and how far you have come.

After experiencing many dark years of my own, helping others brings me joy and fulfillment. I inspire hope by relating to others. We work together gaining perspective and understanding; together we explore options that will meet the individual’s goals. With consistent effort, every human is capable of empowering themselves to implement strategies that will create improvement in their life. No light shines brighter than those who overcome adversity.

As someone who’s faced mental health challenges both personally, and as caretaker for others, I’ve always wanted to use those experiences to support others.

My own mental health challenges began as a teenager. While I was upholding all my responsibilities, I was secretly struggling with major depression leading to suicidal ideations. I was scared to let people know what I was going through for fear they wouldn’t relate or understand.

In time I developed an eating disorder and after leaving home for college began having panic attacks and social anxiety. After struggling on my own for years while away at college I took the first step in my recovery by reaching out for help.

Recovery can be an ongoing, winding road of finding support and tools. Sharing my struggles, surrounding myself in nature, using creative outlets and staying active have helped me maintain my recovery when those dark moments snuck in.

Over the years, I have also walked along both family members and friends experiencing various mental health and substance use challenges. I have supported close friends who have lost loved ones to suicide.

Nowadays, being a mom of teens navigating an everchanging world has only deepened my passion for mental health and allowed me to start those hard conversations. It has opened doors for connection, support and hope. I believe that sitting down and listening to others’ stories while using shared life experiences, empathy and understanding creates a safe space for healing.

From a very young age, I experienced different types of childhood traumas. When I was 13 years old, I attempted to take my own life, but made it through. I began to use substances to self-medicate instead, which grew over time. For 20 years I struggled off and on; I would get clean and sober but relapsed several times throughout. Finally, at 33 years old, not only did I find recovery, but a community that I could count on for support, advice, and sharing. After a 60-day inpatient stay, I found out I had untreated bipolar disorder, PTSD, unresolved grievances, chronic depression disorder, and a very low self-esteem with a big ego. Learning healthy coping skills and not feeling so alone helped me maintain recovery since 2018. Now, I want to pay it forward by doing the same that others did for me; help others find a path to recovery.