This blog is my journal. This is where I come to share my perspective on mental health from my own personal experiences. I hope to create a safe environment to allow those that relate feel more comfortable to talk about it.

I didn’t have many people I could look up to that had dealt with what I have gone through. I thought I was alone and what I was feeling wasn’t normal. I think starting this blog will help others feel more seen, it shows them that it’s okay to not be okay and it’s okay to ask for help. I want people to know they’re not alone. This blog also allows me the freedom to get what’s on my mind out into the open, this is where I speak my truth without fear of being judged.

Recovery is tough, that is the truth. Whether it’s from self-harm, alcohol, or drugs— the first step is admitting you have a problem. You have to take a step back and really look at your life and ask, “Am I controlling these addictions, or are they controlling me?” I remember being in certain situations and knowing I’m going to have to rely on substances to make me a more social person. Looking back now, I realized the people I surrounded myself with only liked the intoxicated version of me. I think once I learned to enjoy my own company, the road to recovery seemed possible. I was able to quit relying on the substances because they weren’t needed to impress anyone anymore. Being alone teaches you a lot, you start to find ways to love yourself more when you have no one influencing you to be a certain way. Recovery is possible, you just have to believe in yourself and make sure you’re doing it for you.

When I’m not writing, I’m working on my own recovery. I’m striving each day to maintain my sobriety and finding new ways to fall in love with life a little more each day. I’m keeping on the path of wellness, and not allowing any interferences disturb the progress I’ve made with my healing. I stay dedicated to healthy coping methods, whether that’s running, hiking, exploring, listening to music, collecting vinyl, traveling, reading, journaling, thrift shopping, spending quality me time, relaxing, photography, cooking, learning new hobbies, or educating myself. I have a toy poodle named Bensen, who keeps me company through it all. He fills this journey with love and gives me a reason to continue whenever hope is lost.

I am constantly celebrating my success stories and not dwelling on what can’t be changed. Maintaining a mindset consisting of gratitude, determination, resiliency, gentleness, and kindness is my main priority. I’m a major mental health advocate and my goal is to allow others to discover the confidence they need to know it’s possible to overcome hardships. I am a certified Peer Recovery Specialist and I’m striving to make the world a place where conversation around mental health is normalized and not shameful. Everyone deserves to feel safe and treated fairly with compassion.