My journey towards better mental health has been a lengthy one. In 2017 I had a job, my own place, and was serving in the National Guard. During this time, I was grappling with my mental health and working closely with doctors to find an effective medication. I could never tell what was working, it really messed me up. I was only in my first apartment by myself for six months before I was overwhelmed and needed to leave, it was horrible for me. It got so bad that I started hearing voices that urged me to take my own life, convincing me that I had lived a full life and there was nothing more to gain from it. I was constantly battling it. 

In 2018, I was honorably discharged from the National Guard due to not meeting the expected standards. In a way, I needed this to happen so I could step away and focus on improving my mental health. Eventually, I moved back in with my parents, and it has now been five years since then.

I told myself that I wasn’t going to work again until I felt ready. After five years, I finally reached a point where I felt ready and found a job. I now have the energy to work in the morning and continue to do things in the afternoon. This may not seem like a significant achievement, but even something I used to love, like running, had become nearly impossible. Now, I can simply get up and go for a run whenever I feel like it.

A psychiatrist I was seeing recommended that I connect with PeerNet through Mental Health Partnerships to have someone to talk to. Unfortunately, I made contact in March 2020, so our initial interactions were virtual. Even through virtual meetings, just hearing 'hello' gave me a much-needed energy boost. Emily's energy began to rub off on me and even