Episode 17: Moving On

For so long, I’ve let my mental illness define me on all fronts. On social media and in real life, it’s what I’m known for. I’m the girl who talks about her illness, I’m the girl who wears her tattoo and scars proudly on her sleeve as a reminder of the pain I have endured and strength I have, I’m the girl who is constantly there as an ambassador for mental health and awareness, and I am not ashamed of any of those things but at some point I need to decide when I get to be more than my mental illness, when I get to be more than my past. As someone who is comfortable talking about it, I accept the responsibility of keeping the conversation going and if you feel comfortable talking about your struggles too, acknowledge and accept the responsibility to speak for the silent and stand for the broken. I will no longer avoid situations because of my anxiety, I will no longer avoid people because of the pain they have caused, I will no longer let my mental illness be an excuse. While I can make this post all about me, I want you to understand something; you are so much more than what happened to you. You are so much more than that one night you decided to hurt yourself because it felt like your only way out. You are so much more than that boy who decided to take things too far when you weren’t ready. You are so much more than that panic attack you had during lecture. Those are moments, not insignificant by any means, moments that don’t deserve to be in the spotlight forever. Moments that don’t deserve the attention you give them and the time you spend wondering “what if?”. Use these things for good! Talk about what happened to you! Remind people that they are not alone! Your story is so significant! Tell your story and let it inspire, but let yourself move on too. Let yourself find friends who know your struggles, but don’t let them define you as a person. Let yourself go to that one place you’ve always wanted to, but didn’t think you had the courage to. Let yourself be something more than what happened to you. Let yourself move on, its time! This isn’t a goodbye, this is just me trying to inspire people and show people that there is a life outside of your mental illness. And of course, never EVER forget: you are LOVED, you are NEEDED, you are ENOUGH.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline :

1 (800) 273-8255