Dear you,

Let me start out by saying I am so glad you're here. So glad you're still here in my world. I know life gets hard. Someday's you feel your world is crashing down and you just want to give up. I am sure there are days that you feel your mental illness getting the best of you. I want to tell you a few things though:

You are worthy.

You are worthy of love, happiness, friendships, your dream job, and so much more. Your worthy of this life we live, no matter how crazy it gets.

I am so proud of you.

Living with a mental illness is hard. Everyday you fight with yourself. You fight to get out of bed and you fight to keep your head above water. But you made it through another day and I am proud of you. I am proud of you for smiling when all you want to do is cry. The way you put up a fight everyday to keep going. I know you want to quit, but keep going.

You're stronger than you think.

Believe it or not, you are so strong. The sun woke up this morning, and so did you. No matter the curve ball's life has thrown your way, you have managed to come out on top.

You are valued.

There is a reason you were put on this Earth. You have a purpose. And even though you may not see it, your life has meaning. This pain you feel isn't for nothing. Your mental illness does not define who you are. When the storm clears out, you'll be able to help others find their rainbow as well.

Don't blame yourself.

We do not get to decide the cards we are dealt in life. Your mental illness is not your fault. There is nothing you could have said or done to change this. Don't become your worst enemy. Know that you are pretty enough, smart enough, fast enough. You are enough just the way you are. While you are enough, you can't blame yourself for feeling like you aren't.

It's OK.

It's OK to cry yourself to sleep. It is OK to have bad days. It is OK to relapse. It is OK to stumble again. What is important is that you get back up. If it was easy I wouldn't know the words to say to write this.

Don't forget to love yourself.

Please promise me that you can learn to love yourself again. The most important person that can love you, is you. Forgive yourself and know your worth. I know that this world needs you and is excited about what you can do for it. Believe in yourself and know that you can do anything you can set your mind to. Let your light shine.

I know what it is like to feel enslaved in your own mind. Trust me when I say it gets easier. Day by day, life seems to get a little brighter. Of course, there is going to be days where it seems impossible to feel whole again, but it gets better. Choose to defy your disorder, choose to live this life for yourself and the people around you. It doesn't happen overnight. It takes time. More importantly, it takes patience, sweat, and a lot of tears. But when you find that light at the end of the tunnel, your freedom makes it all OK.