For many years I have struggled with mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder), and ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). My whole life I have always had a dog in my household that has served as a companion and a sense of security. In August of 2020 I moved three hours away from my home and family to go to college. Starting college was hard but living without a dog was harder. As time went on at school my mental health started to decline, and loneliness started to consume me. After talking with my parents and mental health professionals I decided that getting a dog to live with me was the best decision. Many people questioned my decision and insisted that a dog was not going to make me feel any better or it would just be a short-term solution, but I knew in my heart that there was a void only a dog could fill. In May 2021 I got a saving grace, my dog Sage. I have now had Sage for a year, and she is genuinely the best thing to ever happen to me. As a sufferer of anxiety and depression I often experience panic attacks. During my panic attacks I physically shut down and start uncontrollably hyperventilating. I have gone to therapy to learn how to cope with these attacks, however nothing has ever helped until Sage. Even though Sage has no special training for these situations as soon as I start to have an anxiety attack Sage is jumping on top of me and excessively licks me to try and get me to stop. When I get severely depressed and even at times suicidal my dogs are always right there to comfort me and remind me that there are things to live for. Sage is always there for me through my highs and lows and unconditionally loves me no matter my flaws. Since getting Sage my mental health has improved and I have had fewer panic attacks. Many people think I am “silly” and just a “crazy dog person,” but honestly without my dogs, especially Sage, I do not even know if I would be here. My dogs make me feel loved, ease my loneliness, help me reduce stress and help calm my anxiety and depression. After a long day of work and school it is the most heartwarming feeling to walk into your house and those fluffy little are so excited to see you. The bond I have with Sage is truly irreplaceable and I will cherish it forever. It sounds cheesy and dramatic, but I will forever be for everything my dogs have done for me and the love they have made me feel.

For many years I have struggled with mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder), and ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). My whole life I have always had a dog in my household that has served as a companion and a sense of security. In August of 2020 I moved three hours away from my home and family to go to college. Starting college was hard but living without a dog was harder. As time went on at school my mental health started to decline, and loneliness started to consume me. After talking with my parents and mental health professionals I decided that getting a dog to live with me was the best decision. Many people questioned my decision and insisted that a dog was not going to make me feel any better or it would just be a short-term solution, but I knew in my heart that there was a void only a dog could fill. In May 2021 I got a saving grace, my dog Sage. I have now had Sage for a year, and she is genuinely the best thing to ever happen to me. As a sufferer of anxiety and depression I often experience panic attacks. During my panic attacks I physically shut down and start uncontrollably hyperventilating. I have gone to therapy to learn how to cope with these attacks, however nothing has ever helped until Sage. Even though Sage has no special training for these situations as soon as I start to have an anxiety attack Sage is jumping on top of me and excessively licks me to try and get me to stop. When I get severely depressed and even at times suicidal my dogs are always right there to comfort me and remind me that there are things to live for. Sage is always there for me through my highs and lows and unconditionally loves me no matter my flaws. Since getting Sage my mental health has improved and I have had fewer panic attacks. Many people think I am “silly” and just a “crazy dog person,” but honestly without my dogs, especially Sage, I do not even know if I would be here. My dogs make me feel loved, ease my loneliness, help me reduce stress and help calm my anxiety and depression. After a long day of work and school it is the most heartwarming feeling to walk into your house and those fluffy little are so excited to see you. The bond I have with Sage is truly irreplaceable and I will cherish it forever. It sounds cheesy and dramatic, but I will forever be for everything my dogs have done for me and the love they have made me feel.

In my sophomore year of high school, I was officially diagnosed with depression, anxiety, OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder), and ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). In all honesty being officially diagnosed was one of the best things to ever happen to me because it made me realize how important it is to get help. Before being diagnosed I was struggling and I didn't understand why, I thought that I was “crazy.” After getting diagnosed I was able to get medicated and attend therapy. Even though it has been years since being officially diagnosed and getting professional help I still struggle, because the journey through mental health truly never ends and can be exhausting. It is extraordinarily important to me to spread the word about mental health to end the stigma and make people feel more comfortable about having a mental disability. In the Fall semester of 2021, I started having medication issues and ended up hitting a low point with my mental health. Throughout the semester there were days where I struggled to even get out of bed because I felt so hopeless and anxious all the time. I ended up getting on academic probation and I genuinely thought my life was over because of this and I ruined any chances of being successful. After that semester during winter break, I went back to the doctor and got my medication taken care of. I also reached out to IUPUI’s mental health services and ended up attending some group therapy sessions. I lived each day by day and ended up finishing the spring semester with a 4.0 GPA. I try and share this story with my peers who are also struggling to show them that you can do this, and your life isn't over just because of one mistake. We are all human so we are going to make mistakes, but your mistakes don’t define you. My freshman year of college I attended Midway University where I represented the equestrian team for the Student Athletic Board (SAB). The SAB and I held a weeklong mental health campaign with the slogan #endthestigma. Throughout this week I would set up tables all around campus with facts about mental health, resources for mental health, and just offer students a listening ear to talk to. Showing fellow students that more people including athletes and their peers are also coping with these issues can make a bigger impact than even realized. Setting the example that it is okay to seek help and it does not mean that you are “crazy” is crucial to ending the mental health stigma especially amongst college students. I choose to be a mental health leader in my everyday life by continuing to spread awareness and being open about my issues. Although it can be challenging, being honest about my mental illnesses has helped many people cope. Sharing my mental health journey can help others (especially peers) discover that they truly are not alone, and you can get through this even if it feels impossible right now. One thing that I choose to live by is the golden rule ‘treat others the way you want to be treated.’ Living by the golden rule is important because you never know what someone else is going through and showing even the smallest bit of kindness can have an incredibly positive influence. Mental health wounds are often invisible, and many people hide theirs well, so it is critical to check up on your friends even if they seem fine. Being a true leader is setting my example and not being afraid to be the voice.