I am a 29 year old independent fashion designer. I've been blessed with three beautiful, awesome children! I have a desire to help others.

All of my life I have been surrounded with people that suffered from mental illness. I have lost two very close members of my family to the battle. They both took anti-psyhcotic or anti-depressant medications. They often noted that the medicines they were on were worse than the illnesses themselves.

FAMILY SUPPORT AND UNDERSTANDING IS CRITICAL! All too often I seen both of them struggle with the way most members within their family viewed them for having the illness. 

I sought help months after menal illness took the first life from my family. I was diagnosed with Post Tramatic Stress Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder.  I have rarely ever been depressed in my entire lifetime, so the diagnosis was confusing to me. In bereavement would be a more fitting term.  Talking with a professional I could trust caused all of my symptoms of PTSD to stop within a months time.  I took it upon myself to learn about how help myself at home with anything but prescription medication. My mental health professional was all for me not being medicated and referred to medication as a "band-aid".  He wanted me to talk through my problems and heal naturally.  I am very thankful for that, especially after viewing the effects of anti-psychotics and anti-depressants had on my own family members. They both commited suicide.

FAMILY SUPPORT IS SO ESSENTIAL TO THE HEALING!!!!!!

 I have so many questions.

I have so much to learn.

I have so much to share.

This life is not an easy one. I feel like that we all can learn from each others experiences. Get rid of the stigma that surrounds mental illness, learn a lot and save some lives before it's too late.