Hi, my name is Priscilla, I have struggled with anxiety and depression since my teens. Although anxiety improved over time, I still faced low moments where sadness and self-doubt crept in. I often kept busy or sought excitement to escape these feelings, but it did not bring lasting relief.

The year I turned 30, I sank into one of my longest depressive phases. I felt the pressure of societal expectations and the milestones I had yet to achieve. I struggled with eating and lost a lot of weight. However, I eventually realized that I am not alone in this struggle; everyone faces challenges, even if they are not always visible.

This journey taught me that I have a love to give and a desire to help others. One experience that stood out was seeing a young man with mental health issues being shunned at a salon, and dismissed for his “strange behaviour.” I could see the sadness in his eyes. And it gutted me. No one saw him. No one cared to try. I couldn’t stop thinking about him, His sadness stuck with me. That was my turning point.

Something inside me said: enough hiding, and I decided to take action. I realized that even in my pain, I had love to give. I had empathy. And I wanted to use it.

I started small checking in on friends more intentionally, volunteering, and sharing bits of my story when it felt safe. And slowly, I felt myself healing too.

Helping others became a way of helping myself. It reminded me I still had a purpose. I still mattered.

So if you’re reading this and struggling, please know: that you’re not alone. You don’t have to fake strength.

We’re here. We’re listening. And healing can begin with a simple conversation.