I used to be shy talking about depression and anxiety. I used to feel alone, and then I finally accepted who I am and that my mental illness doesn't define me, and I have Twenty One Pilots to thank for that. In case you didn't know, Twenty One Pilots is a duo that consists of drummer Josh Dun and singer/songwriter/ukulelist/pianist/frontman Tyler Joseph. They're from Columbus, OH and they saved mine, and many others, lives. The lyrics are beautifully written, and are tremendously relatable to those with anxiety, depression or those battling suicidal thoughts.

If you haven't heard of Twenty One Pilots by now, then what rock have you been living under? If you listen to the radio I'm sure you've heard either, “Stressed Out” or “Ride” by now. I've been a dedicated fan and supporter since 2013, and a lot of us OG fans can sometimes get defensive with new fans. I definitely miss seeing them perform in smaller venues because it's more personal, but I recently saw them at The Moda Center in Portland for the third time, and it was wild seeing the whole arena sold out for them! They're like my little babies, and as possessive as I am over them, I'm glad their music is changing other people's lives too and they're getting the success and support they deserve.

If you're a Twenty One Pilots fan and haven't seen them live, please do yourself a favor and go. That's an order, not a suggestion. Even if you aren't a fan, go! You'll leave the show a fan and it will change your life forever seeing them live. It's one thing to really connect with a song and then another to actually experience it live and to see how passionate both Tyler and Josh are about what they do. When you see them perform, it's like watching a story being told. You get to connect with them. Relate with them. When I've gone to other concerts, the artists usually keep that invisible wall up between the stage and crowd. They don't really interact with the crowd and that annoys me a lot of the time. Whereas when you see TØP, Josh will come out in the crowd and have people in the pit hold him up while he does a drum solo. Tyler will have people hold him up as he sings “Holding Onto You” (get it?). And for their finale they both come out together and do a little somethin’. Every time I see them they constantly amaze me. They make you feel apart of them and their lives, it's an emotional experience, be prepared to cry.

I'll never forget the first time I saw them live. One of my favorite songs by them is “Fall Away” and I wasn't sure if they'd play it or not, I try to not look at set lists -- I like the surprise. The minute I heard the intro, I melted. It's almost as if I blacked out and it felt like I was the only one in the room. I remember having the biggest smile on my face with a few tears streaming down my face out of pure excitement. It's crazy what music can do for someone. Once I got out of the daze and saw everyone else singing all the words, I was overwhelmed with so many different emotions. This band means everything to me and I have so much love for them. They changed my life -- they saved me.

This is for you, Josh and Tyler, and it's for everyone else in the clique who can relate. This band has brought together so many people, and it's truly a beautiful thing to see. Now I'll patiently wait until I get to see them again.