I was born in Mexico; I don’t remember much of my childhood. When we were small my parents made the decision they would come to the US for a better life. They left us with our paternal grandparents and came in search of what many call the American dream.

I did all of my school here . Growing up I had struggles and I have always been quiet and shy person.And I had very few friends. In Junior High I was bullied every day by a stinky ass boy who would call me names and I would try hard not to cry.

I also had girls wanting to beat me up because they said I would give them dirty looks. I would never tell anyone at school or at home. Things at home weren’t the best either. I thought that I could handle everything on my own and always kept everything to myself.

In high school I became more confident in myself and learned to protect myself but those scars and words were in my heart and mind forever. I graduated high school in 2001 and then my parents moved to Utah. That was a big change for me. I left my friends and moved to Utah what seem the middle of nowhere.

Little did I know that my life was going to be turned upside down. I had a hard time adjusting to a new state. I had no friends or relatives and no job to keep me busy. I left my boyfriend behind too. Within months I fell sick and I had no energy to get up and go for walks. My body hurt and I felt sick. I went to the doctor and was diagnosed with depression and given medication to help me feel better. Took it for a while once I felt better I stopped and I went like that for a while.

I had my good moments and bad ones too and my mom would try to help me out but I didn’t want to accept it. I thought I could handle it on my own. I would lock myself in my room and cry myself to sleep. I also would get thoughts on overdosing on my medications. But no one knew that.

Dealing with depression and anxiety helped me to know that it is a real problem / serious mental illness/ disorder and I know what it feels. Is not something that anyone should take lightly . I can say specially in the Hispanic/ Latino communities many people think is not serious. They think people fake it or they want attention. No one knows what is like until it happens to you or someone you love .

I can honestly say that if God had not saved me most likely I would not be alive today or still standing. I would be a mess. I know it was God who came to my rescue when I was in the pit of despair. Alone and afraid with no one to run to. Because I did not want anyone to carry my burden or my struggles.