Mental health is no joke. It’s real, it’s heavy, and sometimes it feels like there’s no way out.

Throughout high school, into college, and even on my mission, I’ve struggled with both anxiety and depression. It’s something I still deal with, but I’m learning, very slowly, that it’s okay to not be okay. We can keep going, even when it’s hard.

My Story

During my freshman year of college, I attended Brigham Young University (BYU) in Provo, Utah. I loved it there, the people, the energy, the opportunities. But during my first semester, my anxiety and depression began to creep in.

I started losing motivation to go to class, didn’t want to go to work, or even to do the normal social things that used to come easily. Still, I kept pushing through. I went out, made friends, and built connections that meant a lot to me. By my second semester, I started to feel better, more myself again. I barely noticed my anxiety, and I thought maybe I was past it. Then, I went on a study abroad to Sydney, Australia.

That’s when things changed again.

When Anxiety Took Over

While in Sydney, my anxiety was the worst it had ever been. During my time at BYU, I had unintentionally lost about 10 pounds, and while abroad, I lost another 5 in just six weeks. My body was trying to tell me what my mind was already feeling, I was struggling.

When I returned home, I had just three weeks to prepare for my church mission in Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Mexico. I left for my mission at the lowest weight I had been since high school, physically drained and mentally overwhelmed.

My anxiety and depression only intensified while I was there. Eventually, it became too much. After just three months, I was forced to come home.

Where I Am Now

It’s been about a month since returning home. I won’t lie, it’s still hard. But I’ve realized something really important:

✨ We don’t always have to be okay.
✨ Our struggles don’t make us weak.
✨ We are never alone in what we’re going through.

I want to use my experience to spread awareness and remind others that mental health matters. It’s okay to ask for help. It’s okay to slow down. And it’s okay to admit when you’re struggling.

Because even when it feels impossible, healing is possible. We can do this, one small step at a time.