If you're an average eighth grader, your life is most likely consumed by friends, family, school and the excitement of being one step away from high school. And if you have a little sister in 8th grade, your life will be partially consumed by how annoying it is to hear about all of those things.
But as an older sister, what does your life become consumed by when your little sister hits 8th grade and begins her four-year struggle with depression and anxiety? What do you do when she struggles to get out of bed every day? When she stops sleeping and eating? When she's always alone because her friends don't understand?
Approximately 25.1 percent of the nation's 13-18 year old population suffer from an anxiety disorder, with 5.9 percent of these cases being classified as severe and 12.5 percent have suffered a major depressive episode. We are more aware of mental illness now than ever before, but being able to put a name to an illness doesn't teach you how to cope and assist the loved ones who are confronted with these types of illnesses. As an older sister, my job is to make sure my little sister becomes the best person she can be, no matter how hard the process is along the way. But if you have a younger sibling with depression and anxiety, you can probably understand just how difficult growing up can be when your mind doesn't allow you to live the carefree lifestyle that comes with adolescence.
There's no handbook on how to handle depression and anxiety, and as an older sister, I know the best thing I can do at the end of the day is show my little one how much I love her. So, I want to say a few things to my strong willed, loving and caring sister, who fights every single day of her life to kick mental illness in the you-know-what:
You are beautiful.
I don't care what your head tells you, or how anyone else may make you feel: you decide what beauty is to you, and your beauty need not be proven to anybody. Just always know that you are beautiful, and that I know you are beautiful.
You are strong.
Your head knocks you down and out a million times a day, but that means that you've gotten back up a million times, and that's pretty incredible if you ask me.
You are smart.
I can't imagine how hard it is for you to power through school work, but your intelligence stretches far beyond your imagination. Remember that letter grades and homework aren't nearly as important as the intelligence you've gained about life and its experiences.
You will succeed.
Please know that you define your own success, and the expectations held for others are not always right for you - and there's nothing wrong with that.
You are powerful.
Simply getting up every day proves the amount of power you have over your illness. It does not define you and cannot conquer you.
But most importantly,
