This is to anyone who constantly cries themselves to sleep each night. To anyone who feels insecure about how they look. To anyone who can't remember what it was like to have skin without scars. To anyone that has ever been abused. To anyone who kisses the bottle each night just to feel numb. To anyone that finds it hard to get out of bed each morning and face the day. To anyone that has been teased, bullied, and dehumanized. To anyone with mental illnesses, both acknowledged and disregarded by others.

You are not alone. You are never alone. There is always someone else that understands what you are going through. There are plenty of places to seek help: parents, friends, teachers, counselors, etc. You should never feel ashamed for admitting that something is wrong. You should never feel embarrassed for seeking help. Everyone needs a little help sometimes.

You are beautiful. Your flaws are not flaws. They are what make you unique. Everyone gets acne at some point in their life. Everyone has stomach rolls when they bend over. Nobody is perfect, but everybody is beautiful in their own way. You are no different. You are the only you that there will ever be. Never try to change yourself for people that can't appreciate you in your entirety.

You are more than your problems. Do not let your mental disorders or your past mistakes define you. We all have things we don't like about ourselves, things we regret, things we wish we could change. Do not let these characteristics control your life. You are so much more than your tears, your scars, your illnesses.

You are loved. Even when you feel like the whole world is against you. There is so much love for you in the world. You may feel alone or ignored, but there is still somebody that cares. Do not push away the people that love you. It can be scary to let others in, to let them see the real you. But it is so satisfying to live a life full of love. Learn to love yourself, to love others, and to let others love you in return.

You are worth it. You are so incredibly worth it. You deserve every ounce of happiness in the world. You deserve to be loved and respected and listened to. You have so much potential within you. Someone out there is different because they met you. They would not be who they are if you were not who you are. You have the power to impact lives, the ability to change the world. You may feel small, but you are capable of so many great things.

Don't give up tonight. Don't give up tomorrow. Don't give up. Do not let them win- not the bullies or the razor blades or the voices inside your head. Everything will be okay. Maybe not today, but someday. Stay alive for someday.

I understand how difficult it is to live with mental illnesses. I, myself, have struggled through periods of depression, anxiety, and body dysmorphia. There were times in my life when I wished I wouldn't wake up in the morning. Times when getting out of bed felt as draining as running a marathon. Times when I forced myself not to eat because I felt like the only word that described me was "fat". But I am getting better. Through writing, music, and meditation, I found my way out of the darkness within my mind. That doesn't mean that I never have bad days anymore. There are still nights when I have tears streaming down my face, unable to sleep because my thoughts are too loud. There are still moments when my smile falters and my laugh fades, even if I have no reason to be upset. There are still days when I can't seem to find the sun, despite the fact that there are no clouds in the sky. There are moments when the idea of life and existence is too overwhelming to bear. But the bad times are fewer and farther in between. I am slowly getting better. And you can do the same.

Hopefully this article can break some of the stigma surrounding mental health. We should choose to support those with mental disorders instead of degrading them. Mental health is just as important as physical health. In fact, it can be argued that mental health is even more important than physical health. Mental health- aspects such as stress management skills, self esteem, and psychological disorders- can all impact the ability of our bodies to fight off disease and illness. Just because you can't see a mental disorder doesn't mean it's not a serious issue. Just because a person looks fine doesn't mean they are anywhere close to being okay. We never know who could be struggling to survive. I hope this teaches others to be mindful of everyone around them. And more importantly, I hope this inspires anyone who is struggling to keep fighting. Darkness can't last forever; the sun will always come out eventually. Life is worth living. Choose to live it.

Resources for anyone who may need help:

-National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255

-The Trevor Project: 866-488-7386

-National Eating Disorder Helpline: 1-800-931-2237

-Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-422-4453

-National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 or 1-800-787-3224

-National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264