Dean Family- Victoria's Story - Year 5 - 2016

Change can be good but it is also very hard. The stigma of being 'that' family had really set in. When you live in a small town it's impossible to escape. The hardest decision to move from Virginia to Washington State became the start of the hardest year yet. Leaving the strong community that had supported us all these years is still rough. I almost lost my husband and serious mental health became the only focus driving my actions.

It's hard to look at yourself in the mirror and be honest about the ugly truths that create you. To focus on the healing and not the darkness that surrounds you. To know, you are the only true savior of your soul is hard. No one is going to save you from yourself. You must get the help and support you need to make it each day. This may be your battle to fight but you are not alone. Someone, somewhere, is hoping you make it. Hoping you succeed. I Hope tomorrow is a little brighter.

More discussion about our mental health is needed. Open forums that treat our minds like we treat our bodies. We need to be more supportive of each other and the fight we all fight. We need to understand and have empathy for those of us who fight a darker fight, not just against the world but against themselves. If we don't fight this stigma on mental health we are going to continue to lose those we love to their battle. We can do better as humans to spread more love than hate. I challenge you to think more about your mental state, are you doing all you can for yourself and your health? Loving ourselves is the start to healing the world. It's a must if we truly want to help others and stand against these demons our minds create.

#WUTDay #supportmentalhealth #WUT #waiting #spreadinghope