Help Amy raise money

Hi. My name is Amy and I have struggled with anxiety and depression for the majority of my life. I used to feel like I didn’t belong here - like I didn’t have a purpose, that I didn’t fit in, and I truly believed I was worthless. If you complemented me, I believed it was pity or a lie. I never felt beautiful. I didn’t think beauty was meant for me. And I didn’t tell anyone I felt that way. When given a compliment, I simply smiled and said thank you. But I used to cry myself to sleep. Keeping everything inside was stripping me away, piece by piece, night by night. It came to a point where I hid so many of my emotions, I had no idea who I was. I began living in auto-pilot, only ever showing positive emotions, and shoved all the negative emotions away, because I felt ashamed. I felt like I had to hide my true self. I thought all the feelings I refused to talk about - sadness, anger, anxiousness - were shameful. And why would anyone want to hear about my problems? I felt like talking about them would just make me a burden. I thought I was doing everyone a favour by staying silent. I didn’t know what to do.
But one day, I finally opened up to a friend. She listened. She cried with me.
To this very day she is still my best friend.

Next I talked to a family member. They told me that they felt anxious about all the things I did too - being called upon in class, talking in front of people, ordering food, having to “form a group” - it was social anxiety.

Talking about the chaos going on in my head was more relieving than I ever could have imagined - and finding out that others felt this way too was mind blowing. I used to think I was completely alone in it! That is why I have become so passionate about spreading mental health awareness. You are NOT alone. You are SO worthy of love and everything else. You are beautiful. You are absolutely enough!!