"My parents met in a mental institution, and although they both loved me dearly, neither were fit to have children. My mother has numerous mental illnesses, including severe schizophrenia. When I was around two years old my mother had a psychotic breakdown where she intended on taking both our lives. Since then, she has not been a big part of my life. My father had an addictive personality which led him to alcoholism. I really was his favorite thing in the entire world, but when he drank he would become physically violent toward me. Eventually, I was the reason he became clean from everything. He meant well.

When I turned nine my father's mental health rapidly deteriorated. He was diagnosed with drug-induced psychosis due to severe medication abuse. After a year and a half of struggling with different medications and hospital stays, he tragically decided to take his own life. After he passed things only got worse. I felt so alone. I had this overwhelming emptiness and numbness. I was now a continuance 'of the cycle'. I would use drugs, steal alcohol, steal cigarettes, lash out at people, be promiscuous, get arrested, hated everyone, ect. I moved from family member to family member even changing states. I was too much to handle. I went from a college-level education in a private school in seventh grade to flunking in special education classes for no other reason than my emotional distress. For many years I was a monster and blamed my upbringing. I hated the world and especially myself. I didn't see myself living past high school.

After many difficult years, I have learned to break 'the cycle'. I am not my trauma and my trauma must stop with me. I used to hate looking in the mirror because all I saw was this monster I allowed my traumas to turn me into. I had to break free from my demons and the intrusive thoughts that held me hostage."