I have had depression and anxiety for a while now.

When I was younger, I had really bad Obsessive Cumpulsive Disorder (OCD). I would walk on only the cracks of a sidewalk, run up and down the stairs a ceratin amount of times, and touch the door knob with my left hand, and then my right.

OCD was tough, but I got through it.

Next came the anxiety and depression in high school, probably around sophomore year. A lot of things happened then that really took a toll on me, mentally and phyiscally. I gained weight, isolated myself and was really depressed.

I would not want to eat lunch in the cafeteria at school because I was so anxious. I had social anxiety.

I remember I would just lay in bed for hours, crying, listening to depressing music. I just couldn't face the world or get out of bed.

That's when I started medicine. It really helped and things started to get better.

Don't get me wrong, I was terrified to go on it in the beginning. Would people judge me? Would they see me as weak or less?

I was embarrassed to get help.

This should NEVER be the case.

There is such a horrible stigma about mental illness. That people who have mental illnesses are crazy, weak, useless.

Please understand that none of those stigmas are true, you are strong, beautiful and you will pass the bumps on the road.

I wish someone told this to me, that's why I am writing this. To help maybe one person out there.

It was very tough writing this, the thoughts of my depression and looking back at them made me cringe and upset for a moment. Then, I looked up and realized how successful I am today, how strong I truly am.

I am in college, getting great grades, have such amazing friends and family, and I can finally say, I am happy.