PERSONAL STORIES

Woman in Sunglasses

Every day feels like a battle. A battle with my own mind. It’s hard to explain to others what it’s like to live with mental illness day-to-day. It’s like…

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Adult Male Standing in Front of a LGBTQIA+ Awareness Background

As a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, I can’t deny that life throws some unique struggles my way. The ups and downs, joys and sorrows have…

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Senior Woman Sitting Down

I’ve lived a long life full of challenges and obstacles. But nothing has been quite as difficult as living with mental illness in my later years. It’s…

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Woman Posing with Eyes Closed

My mental illness didn’t just appear out of nowhere. It’s the result of years of trauma and difficult experiences. I’ve experienced loss, abuse…

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Teenager Standing and Holding Books

As a teenager, I’ve always felt like I was on the outside looking in. Social situations that seemed effortless for my peers felt like insurmountable…

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Woman Sitting Behind Desk

As I sit here, typing away at my desk, the weight of my mental illness feels almost palpable. It’s been a long journey, trying to balance the…

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Man Posing for Picture

Growing up as a minority, I was often made to feel like I didn’t belong. My race and culture were seen as different, and I was frequently subjected….

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Contemplating the passage of time, I find myself drawn to the years that have slipped away. My journey has been one of richness and depth…

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Woman Posing for Picture

Sexual intimacy has always been a complicated topic for me. As someone who struggles with mental illness, my relationship with my body and…

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Military Man On Road

I joined the military fresh out of high school, eager to serve my country and make a difference in the world. I knew it would be challenging…

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Woman Posing for Picture

I wake up every day feeling the weight of my own body on my chest. It’s not just my physical weight that’s heavy, but the weight of the stigma that…

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As an American Indian youth growing up in my tight-knit community, I couldn’t ignore the shadows cast by mental health disparities that…

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