I don’t have any idea what it’s like to be inside your mind, but I know all about being by your side. You are so much more than your mind allows you to see. You are an incredible soul with a heart bigger than most, sometimes it gets hidden behind your frustration and sadness. But anybody that loves you knows it's there. I know it’s there.

I am proud of you. You pull yourself from your bed and conquer the day, even when it seems to be too much to bare. You are strong for all the times you’ve wanted to give up but didn’t. It takes an extraordinary amount of courage to fight your inner thoughts. Your mind is an obstacle too difficult for most to handle, but you do it.

Don’t blame yourself. You did not choose to have your mind work the way it does. Your illness does not define you. It does not show the way you love to bake, that you love Reese’s Puffs, or that you can cover a blank canvas with a beautiful image in a matter of minutes. You are amazing.

Ignore what people say to you. Ignore the people that talk down to you and tell you your illness isn’t real. That it’s all in your head and that you can cure yourself. There is no universal cure. You will heal and cope at your own pace and you will find things that help you. Take all the time you need.

Please never feel ashamed for who you are. You have overcome more than others could ever imagine. You could look a tiger in the eyes and know that you’ve faced something much more viscous. You are an inspiration. You should tell your story proudly and say “I conquered, I made it, I’m here.”

You are so loved. You have a support system behind you and it goes far beyond just me. Myself alone loves you enough for five people. When you feel alone, try to remember that you aren’t. Try to remember all the times we’ve soaking in the sunshine or singing along to the radio in the car. Try to remember all the times we’ve spent laughing until we cried because that’s the only reason you should ever have tears streaming down your face.

You deserve love. You deserve somebody who makes you feel like you’re the only one in the world. I hope that you never settle for anything less than a love that makes you whole. The toxic relationships are not worth the stress they put your mind through. Walk away. There is somebody somewhere who will love the way you bite at your fingers when you’re nervous or the way you slide through the kitchen when you have socks on. You have so much to offer and you deserve somebody who will not take those things for granted.

I want you to know more than anything that I’ll always be here. I’ll try my best to understand your mindset and help you through your rough times. I’ll be there when you need a hug and when you need a shoulder to cry on. I’ll be there to help you translate your feelings when you just can’t do it anymore. I’ll be there in the middle of the night when my phone rings and you’re in tears. I want you to know more than anything that I’ll be there.

Don’t ever feel like you’re bothering me. Don’t hesitate to pick up the phone and dial my number. Don’t hide in your bed and cry onto your pillow without inviting me over. If you’re texting me about the cute thing your cat just did, but there’s something deeper on your mind, please tell me. I will never get tired of being your friend. I promise you that I will be the first to step up and spread awareness for mental illness and defend all of its realness in your honor.

Take care of yourself. I want you to dance like a child and listen to music that makes you happy. I want you to smile for no reason. I want you to take all the time you need to assure your own happiness. You deserve to be happy. You deserve nothing less than to love yourself. When you feel like you’re stuck in a cloudy shadow, search for your own sunlight. Create it.

All my love,

Your Friend.

PS. Martina McBride said it best: “When you’re weak, I’ll be strong. When you let go, I’ll hold on. When you need to cry, I swear that I’ll be there to dry your eyes. When you feel lost and scared to death like you can’t take one more step, just take my hand, together we can do it. I’m gonna love you through it.”