In my 18 years of life I’ve only been in one relationship but I can honestly say that it has brought me more happiness than anything else I’ve ever experienced. Now don't get me wrong, its brought a ton of other emotions: fear, doubt, pain—the usual emotions that come along with finding love. However, deep down, I know I’ve found my soulmate; knowing that is what makes all the difficult times worth it. My soulmate happens to be another woman. At the very beginning of the relationship I struggled a lot with this simple fact. I had always thought that my soulmate absolutely had to be a man. It was difficult for me to accept the fact that I had fallen for another woman; I tried my absolute best to change my emotions towards her. For a long time I hid behind drunken words or actions, and refused to believe that this was happening to me. As if it was some sort of misfortune that I needed to overcome. I tried time and again to convince myself that I was only going through a phase or that I was confused. This way of thinking was seriously harming my mental stability and I didn't even know it. Often times my depression would be worsened or triggered by my confusion and struggle with my sexuality. The idea that I was attracted to a woman also somehow convinced me that I needed to try harder to get a man’s approval; this worsened my bulimia. Unknowingly, my inability to accept my own sexuality was causing major problems with my already serious mental health problems. After months of break ups, reconciliations, tears, high points, and low points, I finally accepted my own sexuality and allowed myself to find happiness with another person—regardless of their gender. While this acceptance definitely aided in my search for happiness and healing, I still felt like something was missing. I knew I needed to tell my family. Anyone who knows me knows its pretty obvious that I’m not completely straight; my family members and close friends definitely knew. I decided to take a leap of faith and come out to the loved ones in my life. Initially I was terrified. Coming from a hispanic, very devout catholic family, I worried whether or not I would be accepted by my family. Luckily, I was blessed with a loving and accepting family. As soon as I told my dad, I felt a huge load come off my shoulders. Within a few minutes we were cracking jokes and messing around and things felt great. It’s been a journey but luckily I’ve been able to come to accept my sexuality as a part of who I am. I’ve found an incredible, beautiful person that I truly believe to be my soulmate and feel supported and loved by my family in regard to this. Though I am blessed with incredible people in my life, countless people across the globe aren't as fortunate. According to NAMI, the National Association for Mental Illness, LGBTQ individuals are three times more likely to suffer from some sort of mental health condition. Whether its depression or an anxiety disorder, people struggling with their sexuality are at a higher risk of experiencing difficulties in regard to mental health. Our society today is becoming more open and accepting of people, regardless of sexual orientation, but that doesn't change the stigma that still exists. Go onto any high school campus and I can guarantee you will hear the word “gay” being used as an insult or a joke at least once. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for jokes and believe sometimes humor can be the best medicine, but when someone is struggling with their sexuality and they hear the word they most identify with being used as an insult, they can become even less secure with what they are experiencing. At an already confusing and difficult point in life, the last thing anyone needs is a joke about or invalidation of the emotions being experienced. For LGBTQ youth between the ages of 10 and 24, suicide is the leading cause of death. So many people see being gay or bi as a worst case scenario. They fear being outcast from their families or from society and may see suicide as the only option. The kind of fear that comes along with questioning sexuality can lead to serious complications with mental health. Depression, substance abuse, isolation, etc, can all be triggered by the fear that comes along with questioning sexuality. As human beings one of the most beautiful things we can provide is love. Whether you're gay, straight, bi, asexual, or anything else, its important to remember that you always have someone who loves and supports you, regardless of what you may think. As cliche as it sounds, simply spreading love and acceptance into the world can make a world of difference. So many of us could be healthier mentally and physically if we both experienced and spread the amount of love that we each deserve. I encourage you to remember the incredible impact a simple smile or a warm hug can have on a person’s life and go out of your way to make even the tiniest difference. Mental health is a constant battle, but if there is even one day that lightens the load or makes you feel that life is worth living, it makes the rest of the journey feel a little bit more doable.