You are Never Alone

As of 2021, according to a study published by NAMI* (The National Alliance of Mental Health,) "22.8% of 22.8% of adults in the United States had a diagnosable mental illness, which is about 57.8 million people." As I have opened up about my own struggles and daily living with mental illness, I have gotten to see how relatable these things are to so many others. I have been blessed to hear others' stories. I feel so much less alone these days, and I very much hope to pass that feeling onto others. We are not alone.

My Story

My journey through navigating neurodivergence and mental illness began long before my actual memories of it. As a baby and into childhood, my family didn't understand my body focused repetitive behaviors. For years, nobody knew that I was self-harming. It took a hospitalization in 2015, just before my 24th birthday, to receive any formal diagnoses, and since then I have been working on myself much more actively. I became much more open about my personal experiences and began to realize that there were so many people, people I knew even, that were dealing with similar issues but were too ashamed to speak up. Negative stigma costs lives.

These days, I do a lot of creating; I've found that it is a wonderfully therapeutic activity for helping to keep my mental health in check. Through activities like Art Abandonment** and fellowshipping with likeminded people in groups online, I have realized that my creations can make an impact; they can brighten somebody's day, and that brings light to my heart and soul.