Depression

I believed in the recipe that society had laid out for me: get a good education, land a good job, buy a house, get married, have children, and boom—happiness would follow. But as I continued down this path, something didn’t add up. The math wasn’t mathing.

The thing about a tragic event is that the physicalness of it passes, time moves on, and life continues. We mourn and commemorate, but the world doesn’t stop. When I finally got the help that I needed, I started to feel growth

I struggle with Autism Spectrum Disorder, anxiety, and some depression issues. My biggest triumph has been working out with my personal trainer every day. Exercise relieves some of the anxiety and pain I’m feeling, and I can let out my frustration in a way that makes me feel healthy and positive.

Depression and anxiety have a way of creeping into even the most “successful” lives. I convinced myself that if I just worked harder, I’d finally feel whole. But no matter how much I accomplished, it was never enough. I reached a breaking point where I had to make a choice: keep pretending, or finally ask for help. The truth is, reaching out for help was the strongest thing I had ever done.

Depression consumed me, making even the smallest tasks feel impossible. I was stuck in a vicious cycle, drink to escape, wake up filled with regret, and repeat. I knew I had to make a change or risk losing everything. Today, I am a sober mental health advocate, 100 pounds lighter, and stronger than I’ve ever been, physically, mentally, and emotionally.