I was diagnosed with major depressive disorder and general anxiety disorder December of my freshman year. I struggled and my family noticed me pulling away and isolating myself from things and people I loved. A year later, I began self harming on a frequent basis. This only worked to increase my feelings of loneliness as I had to constantly wear long sleeves and hide things from my family and friends. I went to a nearby mental hospital after a particular difficult episode for my family to experience. My self harming behaviors seriously exacerbated my problems with suicidal ideation and I nearly lost the battle but it was my motivation to help this world and those who are struggling that pulled me out. I had to go to the hospital twice for injuries caused to myself and am now left with very wide and prominent scars on my forearms and wrists. However, I don’t hide them anymore. I am not ashamed of who I am or what has happened to me and I want to help other people to feel the same way. Throughout my journey, I concealed what I was going through because of my fear that my friends and those close to me would change their perception of me due to the stigma that surrounds mental illness. Since I have recovered and my condition has improved, I have made it my mission to reduce the pervasive impact of this stigma and help in any way to ensure less people have to struggle through their demons alone.

Email : t3mcguckin@outlook.com