"Therapists were only for people who were “crazy”."

Growing up, mental health has always been an unspoken thing in my culture. Therapists were only for people who were “crazy” and I never would’ve thought that I would need to go for therapy myself. During my time away from home as an international student I couldn’t help but feel emotions of doubt, depression and just a general feeling of being alone, and the way that I filled that emptiness was through toxic relationships that made me feel even worse about myself. At some point when my last relationship failed, I kept blaming myself and just filled my head with negative thoughts that made me feel so small. It got to a point where I couldn’t function without breaking out into tears, I couldn’t fake it anymore.

It was at that time when I finally chose to help myself and decided to go for therapy.

If I’m being honest at first I felt so hesitant and I just didn’t think it was helping me. But the more I allowed myself to open up and actually listen,

it made me realize how powerful I am when it comes to my own mental health.

I realized that I could control my emotions and while I do so, I also have to accept that external factors are out of my control but that is how life works.

Knowing this has allowed me to relieve myself of the feelings of emptiness and fears of rejection. I have finally freed myself from that loop of self pity and ultimately gave room for me to practice taking care of my mental and emotional health.

- Anonymous