Will, 32, Arizona, US

“The last few years I have learned a lot about myself by way of mental illness that I never knew existed in my mind.

I suffer from anxiety, extreme social anxiety and most of all depression. I constantly worry, and anxiety or depression usually overtakes my thoughts throughout my day. For over ten years I just thought that this was a normal thing, that everyone experienced the same emotional ups and downs just as I did.

I never knew how crippling these emotional handicaps were until I was consistently reaching depths of depression and anxiety that I had never experienced before. Feelings of low self-esteem, no self-worth, no desire to do anything… It was extremely difficult to put together a productive day, let alone a productive couple of hours based on how out of tune with reality that I really was. My personal relationships suffered, I became reclusive and the things I once had a passion for were no longer important to me. I did not care about a damn thing, and that is a dangerous state of mind to be in every waking moment.

The first steps of overcoming this obstacle were not easy. I called my doctor and made an appointment to talk about my feelings. She has been instrumental in guiding me back out from the mental depths of hell. I am now on a path where I can see and feel the positive changes I work on everyday, and I think that is the key; To continue the battle against anxiety and depression EVERYDAY, doing whatever it takes to keep your mind occupied with the things that help you cope. I like to spend my time outdoors taking pictures and travelling. That is what I am doing lately to cope with my mental illness.

I am here to tell you that reaching out for help and coming to terms with mental illness is something I should have done years ago. If you are reading this and are in a similar situation that I was in, I challenge you to take action now and begin to mend your spirit, ease your mind, and share your burden with a friend or a health professional who can help you deal with this disease that will never go away… it is a lifelong battle.

I am here to help you and offer encouragement to you all. Please reach out to me if you want to chat or just need someone to talk to. I would love to learn from you and share ideas and thoughts about what you are going through and what you are doing to overcome those challenges.”

Instagram- @willholmesphoto

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