6.
“I was a rebellious kid, but a lot of it was as a result of (then-undiagnosed) mental illness. At 14/15, I would constantly argue with family, self-harm, sneak out, get drunk, hang around with much older teens/people in their early 20s, and have sex. Eventually, I ran away and was brought home by the police.”
“I ended up getting sent to a psych hospital for a year and was diagnosed and prescribed life-changing medication. My relationship with my family was mended through hours of family therapy and self-reflection and my parents’ learning how to acknowledge and support my mental illness/recovery. I still take medication every day.
I’ve had a handful of relapses with self-harm etc. over the years, but I’m turning 28 this summer, I’m 11 years teetotal sober, my mom is my best friend, I just bought my first home, and I now work as a property lawyer at a fantastic firm that supports my ongoing recovery.”
