It’s freeing to ask people for help, and people are often very willing to help.

I transitioned right out of the military to going to school at SPU. The military has structure. But in school you have to make your own structure. Around the winter of my first year here, I thought I was failing a class, and I went into crisis mode. I had already dealt with panic attacks, depression, and anxiety before, but I had to do much more than before in order to function at school. In my crisis mode, I called my doctor in a panic. I started some medications and connected with a counselor. I’m doing better now. I still struggle. But I learned that it is okay to ask for help. Not even okay, but necessary. Your military family is a tight knit family. Yet, at the same time, you’re expected to do everything on your own. But that isn’t a healthy mindset. It’s freeing to ask people for help, and people are often very willing to help. Even if they don’t quite know how. Here at SPU I am learning that I can go to friends, pray, read the Bible, and remember the truths that God has said about me.

Mental health shouldn’t have the stigma that it currently holds. I am healing from this, and I have to remember that just because something bad is happening tome doesn’t mean that I amsomething bad. I am healing from the shame of feeling like I am something bad. I’ve learned that I am valuable and have a God-given purpose. I am worthy simply because I am here.