When both of my kids got married and moved out, I didn’t expect the shift to hit so hard. I had been a stay-at-home mom and homeschooled both of them from kindergarten through high school—my world revolved around being their mom. Suddenly, the house was quiet and I was alone with myself in a way I hadn’t been in decades. It felt earth-shattering, like I had lost a piece of who I was. I found myself wondering what came next and if I even knew who I was outside of motherhood. I still live with anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and ADHD, and this new stage of life added another layer of complexity to my mental health journey. But I also saw it as a chance to rediscover myself. I became a Certified Peer Support Specialist because I wanted to turn my pain into purpose. I know what it’s like to sit in the quiet and not know where to begin again—and I also know it’s possible to find a new sense of self on the other side. If you're in this transition too, I’d love to talk.