How do you define mental health?

“I define mental health as your brain being hurt. So, just as a body part or just like if you break your arm or twist your ankle or something, it’s just like that except to your brain.”

Okay. I love that! How do you define self-love?

“Self-love to me is complete confidence in who you are. So, if you’re fully self in love then you have complete confidence and happiness in who you are.”

Is mental health an aspect of your life that you choose to focus on?

“Absolutely. Yes.”

Has it always been that way or is that more recent?

“No. That has recently change I would say probably the last two years.”

Have you ever had struggles with your mental health?

“Yes. So, I feel like I’ve personally struggled with anxiety pretty much my entire life, but like I said I haven’t really noticed it until these past two years. Other than that, I think I’ve mentally been upset or sad, but I don’t know if I’d define it as mental health issues. But definitely anxiety.”

What helped you realize it as anxiety or mental health struggles?

“I think honestly just awareness with other people defining it. I always thought my anxiety was just me going through life. I didn’t realize it was actually a problem and that I was legit getting anxious with things. And I think when other people started telling their stories and explaining to other people that it wasn’t normal for them to be feeling this way... like how I defined it earlier as a mentally hurt or an illness. That’s when I started to realize it wasn’t something I was doing. It was something I couldn’t really control.”

What makes you most happy?

“My friends.”

What is a moment in your life that you look back at with happiness?

“I would say when I went to you Europe with my mom and aunt?”

What’s a moment in your life that you look back at with sadness?

“I would say last year when I felt very, very alone and was looking for comfort from somebody who wasn’t here.”

If you could tell your younger self one thing, what would it be?

“STOP caring so much.”

It’s so true. Okay. What is one thing you would change about yourself?

“I could be so surface level right now, but I am not going to be! One thing I would change about myself is the judgment that I place on people from hearing things about them and not being able to formulate my own opinion.”

What is your favorite thing about yourself? And don’t be modest.

“My favorite thing about myself is probably the trust that I have for myself in the decisions that I make.”

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