I had been to many therapists for my anxiety and depression. I always had a difficult time feeling comfortable enough to open up about why I was feeling the way I did. I didn’t even really know. How do I explain what I don’t understand?
Even just 15 years ago, there weren’t enough resources or support for parents to help their children struggling with mental health issues, so when I started showing signs of depression and disordered eating, my parents didn’t know what to do. I felt very alone with my struggles and began to repress my feelings, which became detrimental to my physical health.
We need to tell our stories, hoping a life can be saved. I like the mantra: ‘I’ll see you tomorrow.’ I wish I had said that to Justin every night. In that sentence there is a spark of hope. Tomorrow is a new day and we want to see our loved ones every tomorrow.
My name is Justin Brien and I am a mental health advocate, inspirational speaker and a certified life coach and I am also much more than just that. I am living proof that with enough hard work, belief in yourself and finding your why that you can push through any roadblock in your life including depression and suicidality.
We grew up in an amazing home, with a loving family. 10 years ago I survived my own suicide attempt. As a kid, with all these hormones, you feel like every thing in life is the end of the world.
To sum up my childhood, I grew up in dysfunction and organized chaos. I never had an example of anything "healthy", only things I knew I didn't want to do and didn't want to become. There was love, but it was never healthy. I didn't even know what real love felt like, but I knew this wasn't it.
I often ask myself why did I get chosen to be the last person from the family to see him alive, why did I become the person to search for him after receiving such a concerning phone call, why was I chosen to be the first to arrive on the scene, the first to identify him and the first to receive confirmation that he has passed on?