Early into my teenage years, a distinct event took place that triggered a downward spiral in my mental health. We were moving! I recall thinking the car ride to our new home was torture, every minute was becoming more panicky than the next. A new school, a new house, and new classmates. The car stopped in the long driveway and my mind jolted forward. As months persisted, I sensed something wasn’t right. I was used to being social, but I couldn’t make friends, my GPA flopped, and I had no creative outlets. My stress levels had reached their peak and my mindset had leaped off the deep end. I was suffocating inside. Panic attacks, OCD, and intrusive thoughts became a routine. I had no joy nor faith. I relied only on myself to get through daily situations. God was no longer my focus. Why would God put me through this? Why is he punishing me? Why can’t I handle this myself? “I think you have symptoms of a panic disorder,'' said my therapist during a late-night session. I felt relieved. There was a diagnosis of what I was enduring. While articulating my thoughts and facing my irrational anxieties, I began to get a hold of my identity. The racing fears that stole my time and energy had vanished. Little by little, I started to enjoy sports and socializing as I once did. Anxiety would still creep in, but now I could fight it. My trust in loved ones and God flourished. I was able to surrender my fears and feel the burdens released. Therefore, my faith, self-esteem, and outlook soared high. I grew an immense empathy and curiosity for helping people. OCD, irrational fears and intrusive thoughts equipped me with the ability to be raw with others struggling with similar predicaments. Through deep conversations, I was able to coach others to conquer the monsters living within. I discovered that sitting down and discussing others’ life stories was fulfilling. It was encouraging to see my thought processes become influential in their lives. My brother, Truman, was my most predominant client. He was undergoing the same anxiety attacks and fears regularly. I shared my testimony and skills to combat his tribulations. Fortunately, he was able to reconceptualize his fears by questioning their realities. What will happen to me? Is this thought true? Truman’s thoughts greatly progressed and he gave gratitude for his newfound coping mechanisms. My passion for speaking in people’s lives made me think deeper about my path for the future. Do I want to teach children proper pronouns? Do I want to clean peoples' teeth? Do I want to plan corporate events? No. I want to apply my talents to ask, observe, and counsel people in need of desperate help! As I looked to the future, my perspective was completely altered. All of my battles were a part of a bigger picture. God had used me to help my brother, friends, and future clientele. The Lord had not been punishing me but pushing me to grow in His likeness. He was my fountain of assurance, and nothing could shake that. I could finally take a breath.