Have you ever looked out a dirty widow through which you could hardly see, then wiped it clean and enjoyed the view? That's the best way I can describe what this new regimen did for me.
Throughout this journey, I’ve learned that you need to prioritize having a good treatment team, cultivating honest friendships and practicing self-care and acceptance.
My parents were instrumental in helping me shed the deeply-internalized fear that my diagnosis would limit my future. They reminded me that if I took care of myself, my career would follow.
As I look back on my situation and other stories of incarceration, I hope to educate law enforcement and the public on a better approach to mental health crisis response. The bottom line? People in crisis do not belong in jail.
I finally stopped fighting him. He stayed by my side, loved me and supported me.
For a long time, I blamed myself for his death. How did I not know that he was suffering? Why didn't I call him more?
I used my pain as motivation — I educated myself on mental illness and began to advocate for myself and my treatment.
The struggles we’ve faced in the past simply make us stronger — and we all deserve to have happy and beautiful lives.
After recognizing how bad things had become, I knew it was time to get serious about my own mental health.
NAMI HelpLine is available M-F, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. ET. Call 800-950-6264,
text “helpline” to 62640, or chat online. In a crisis, call or text 988 (24/7).