Supporting a loved one through grief

Blake A.

Losing my mom when I was 19 was an incredibly hard experience, and I’ll never forget the support I received from my friends. One friend in particular really helped me through that difficult time. She wrote me a heartfelt letter, offering encouragement and acknowledging my pain. That letter became one of the things I held onto as I navigated my grief. It showed me the power of simply being there for someone, in a tangible way, without trying to fix everything. Since then, I’ve tried to pay that kindness forward. I’ve supported friends going through grief, especially when they’ve lost a parent or someone close to them. Just knowing someone understands what you’re feeling can make all the difference, so I’ve tried to offer that same level of support and comfort. I always take the time to listen, acknowledge their pain, and send them thoughtful messages, like the letter I received. Grief is hard to navigate alone, and I want to be that person who helps others find their way.

Managing anxiety and depression with healthy coping skills

Jamie H.

I’ve struggled with anxiety and depression for most of my life, but things became especially challenging in my 30s. For a long time, I used alcohol to numb the feelings I couldn’t handle, which only made things worse. After a serious depressive episode and a DUI, I finally sought help at a behavioral health treatment facility. That experience was a turning point. I learned how to cope with my emotions in healthier ways through therapy and support from friends and family. Now, I’m mostly sober and have control over my alcohol use—I choose when and how to drink, and it no longer controls me. I also focus on wellness through exercise and nutrition, which has helped me maintain balance. I’ve had moments when I felt like giving up, including three suicide attempts, but now I’m happier and steadier than I ever thought possible. I want to use my journey to help others who are navigating anxiety, depression, and the difficult road to healing.

Exploring self-care and coping strategies

Leslie C.

For a long time I spent many years spinning in confusion and disconnected from my true self. Doubting my abilities and second guessing what I knew was my true life path. It has been a amazing journey reconnecting to my authentic self and life purpose. I realized that life will not slow down and that I had to create the space in the mist of being everything for everyone else in my life and not fully showing up for me. There are times in our lives when we must restructure and update are values and belief systems to match where we are on our current life path. I had to ask myself the difficult questions, make the time and rediscover how I truly wanted my life to become. I found valuable tools along the way, such as meditation, journaling, holistic modalities and various other self help tools to bridge the reconnection to my higher self. These amazing tools provided the balance, connection and healthy boundries I ultimately needed to live the life I truly deserved and wanted.

Incorporating mindfulness into your life

Ronna P.

As I entered adulthood, I felt an intense need to overachieve in nearly every area of my life to feel accomplished. I was deeply committed to my full-time job, raising my children, and squeezing in workouts—either at 5 a.m. or immediately after work before picking up the kids from daycare. Weekends were no different: packed with family outings, visits to relatives, errands, and late-night social events. I felt a great sense of pride in filling every single hour of the day.