Oakland, CA — I dealt with anxiety and depression for a long time. It got so bad, I started skipping school. The solution I found was actually right under my nose: I found comfort in church.
I’ve been going to church my whole life. My mom said I had to. But most of that time, it was just something I did without thinking.
Then around sixth grade, I started struggling with mental health. I had no hope whatsoever. I wasn’t comfortable in my own skin. I remember going to class sweating and my body shaking, because I had so much fear of people smelling my sweat.
I turned to counseling but that didn't help. That’s when I started reaching out to God. I felt like there wasn’t another option to take my pain away, so I prayed and read the Bible.
It didn’t happen overnight. My anxiety didn’t cool down until the middle of sophomore year.
I know, different people find different ways to deal with their mental health struggles. Some turn to therapy, or to music-making. For me, it was spirituality.