State: Maryland

I have suffered from anxiety and depression since I was 12 years old.  My father and his father were alcoholics.  My father left us when I was younger thankfully since he was abusive.  I made my first attempt while in high school.  After graduation, I attended the United States Naval Academy.  I coped there with drinking.  I joined the Marines Corps after graduation.  I continued to cope with alcohol until 2014 when I made another attempt and was hospitalized.  My anxiety and depression spiked at this time.  I was cutting and was diagnosed with BPD.  I left the Marines a year later and focused more on my mental health.  I have been in and out of therapy since 2013.  Fast forward to today, I am three years sober.  I completed a residential treatment over the summer which saved my life.

I am better at managing my illness but there is still work to do.  My cousin recently completed suicide.  His departure affected me deeply and I knew I needed to do more to help people like him and myself