I think I was possessed when I wrote this lol. This piece is a very raw and honest look into how depression affected me. I would be honored if you took a moment to digest my story. The following material contains graphic content and descriptive imagery that may be triggering to some. Wattpad and Maybelline have partnered up once again for MNY's Brave Together initiative. This month, for every story submitted under the #BraveTogether Weekly Writeathon, Wattpad and Maybelline will donate $1, up to a total of $40,000. For more info and how to join, visit wattpad.com/maybelline.

Three years ago, my husband's little brother died by suicide. This is the first time I've written about the way we healed and continue to heal. During the month of May, for every story submitted under the #BraveTogether Weekly Writeathon, Wattpad and Maybelline will donate $1 to one of four youth-focused organizations that provide direct support. For more info and how to join, visit wattpad.com/maybelline. I'm excited to be working with Maybelline this Mental Health Awareness Month to highlight some ways to work through trauma. Many of us have dealt with loss, especially since the start of the pandemic, and it can be a struggle to balance our own feelings of grief with the desire to support others.

We cannot control our mental health. We don't get to pick and choose how we feel or when we feel it - but what we do control is how we deal with these things. - Wattpad and Maybelline have partnered up once again for MNY's Brave Together initiative. This month, for every story submitted under the #BraveTogether Weekly Writeathon, Wattpad and Maybelline will donate $1, up to a total of $40,000 to four leading mental health focused organizations that provide direct support. For more info and how to join, visit wattpad.com/maybelline.

Today's a good day. It's Friday. Your mom cooks a good breakfast before school. Your crush smiles and holds the door open for you after class. You ace that big algebra exam you crammed for at lunch. Your best friend shows you a new TikTok dance and begs you to learn it with them after school. After getting off the bus, you and your best friend rush home to learn the dance. They're so excited, their excitement has spilled over to you, and now, you can't sit still. You have to learn this dance. Plus, you're confident your video will go viral. So, you open your TikTok app to search up the dance to get a hang of it, but the more you watch, the more you feel like you're not good enough to do this. The first person has more rhythm than you. The next person is prettier and thinner. The last person has over a million followers and is dancing in front of their mansion. Suddenly, you don't want to do the dance anymore, and you don't know why you thought you ever could. Despite the fact that you're a skilled dancer with trophies to prove it and your friends and family always say you're the best dancer they know. Your good day is ruined, and you're too embarrassed to admit to your friend why you're no longer in the mood. Surprisingly, so many people have similar experiences in their lifetime. If you ever feel like a fraud and like you don't deserve the praise or accomplishments you receive, you might be suffering from impostor syndrome. Here's my impostor story and a few words of encouragement for anyone who may be feeling the same. --- Wattpad and Maybelline have partnered up once again for MNY's Brave Together initiative. This month, for every story submitted under the #BraveTogether Weekly Writeathon, Wattpad and Maybelline will donate $1, up to a total of $40,000 to four leading mental health focused organizations that provide direct support. For more info and how to join, visit wattpad.com/maybelline.