Freedom
After my diagnosis, I finally accepted that I wasn’t a ‘freak’ or a ‘loser.’ I have a mental health disorder. That understanding became my mission: to help others find the same acceptance and, more importantly, a way out of the constant battle.
Discovering MQ during my recovery was a gift. An opportunity to connect with other people trying to make a real difference concerning the treatment and care of mental illness. I can relate to the noble quest of research. I’ve since spent my life learning, managing, and teaching others the tools I used to reclaim my peace. I started a popular blog (which I have since restarted) and had two bestselling books published.
Yet, my greatest passion is working one-on-one. As of this year, I became a social anxiety and confidence coach.
I literally take people on the path I walked. The path where you can finally stop critiquing your own performance, leave the crippling fear behind, and, at the very least, feel profoundly comfortable in your own skin. My breakdown was my breakthrough, and now, my journey is a roadmap.
These days, when people ask if I still have social anxiety, I say, “Yeah, of course. It’s a part of me. However, it doesn’t have any more power over my life than a sneeze. It’s a temporary discomfort that I manage with compassion.”