Mental Health Week

ᴍᴇɴᴛᴀʟ ʜᴇᴀʟᴛʜ ᴀᴡᴀʀᴇɴᴇꜱꜱ

Here is a little story about my past.. I am not doing this for anyone to feel sorry for me but I am doing this in hopes to potentially reach some of you that might be struggling and know that I was once there. I have overcome many battles and demons and I can relate.

This right here is very hard - but here it goes. Depression… I hope none of you have ever had to go through with this, but I am human and I feel like you should know where I have been.

All growing up I hated myself. I hated my body, I hated my hair, my skin, my fat rolls. I was picked on, bullied through high school and college and had zero self confidence. I was beyond depressed growing up. I just couldn’t find that confidence. I didn’t have a great support group of friends and the ones that I did have talked about me behind my back.

I still hadn’t found my confidence and decided to join the Army. Horrible idea. The army tears you down with barely bringing you up.

I was struggling with being in the Army extremely badly on my second deployment. The long hours, sometimes zero to little sleep in just a few days. I was beyond depressed. I tried to reach out for help and all they did was over medicate me. The over medication caused me to have no feelings whatsoever. I basically turned into a zombie. After that last deployment I realized the Army was doing my body and mind more harm than good so I decided to leave. Years and years of counseling later. Here I am.

I just want you to know that it is ok to hurt. It is ok to be sad. But I have found exercise as my outlet for peace and tranquility in my life. I still battle depression all of the time, but I have found tools and a support team to help me through it. Even if it's not exercise that helps you, find that one thing that pushes you forward. Makes you never quit or give up. Stop giving up on yourself. 💯