When I wrote ‘Live for Me’ I had recently gotten out of the mental hospital for the second time. The first time I was hospitalized it was right before I turned nineteen and I had just gotten home from my first semester at college. It was during that first semester that I had my first manic episode. I didn’t realize it at the time but it became a defining moment in my life because the second I was finished and learned how terrible I did, I had my first depressive episode. I had tried to kill myself. Luckily for me, I didn’t succeed but I was admitted into the hospital and diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. At first I didn’t accept my diagnosis and refused to take medication for years. But after years of failed relationships, ups and downs I finally decided to give therapy and medication a second chance. I was in a good place for a few years. I hadn’t had any major episodes until one bad day that changed my life forever. I was suicidal and I was self aware of the fact that I was in a major spiral so I voluntarily admitted myself back into the mental hospital. During my three week stay there I learned about DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy) which was where I learned the phrase “Build a life worth living.” A week after I was released COVID started and the country started to shut down and everyone was beginning to quarantine. I had began to see a new therapist via video calling and I was talking about a book during one of our sessions together because it really impacted me. It was in that moment she said to me “Why don’t you write a book that you would want to read?” I decided okay I guess I will give it a try. Within three weeks I had written my first draft of my manuscript. I never had any expectations of what would come of writing a book but the unexpected happened and now it’s published for everyone to read. My goal in writing this book was to shed light on mental illness in a way that didn’t define struggling with your mental health made you “crazy.” That it’s different for everyone and there is no one shoe fits all for every diagnosis. My goal is to reduce to the stigma that comes with being diagnosis. That you deserve love and happiness just like everyone else. And to anyone who is struggling I hope that my book and my blog can be some sort of inspiration to you. I want you to know there is light at the end of the tunnel. Your life does matter and if you can’t find the light, I will sit with you in the dark until you can again.
Thanks for being a difference maker! I appreciate your efforts to bring more awareness to mental illness. I really enjoyed your first book and look forward to reading more of your books in the future.