Take heart in these words from others who have taken the journey themselves . . .

“Mental health is not a destination, but a process. It’s about how you drive, not where you’re going.” — Noam Shpancer

“Self-care is giving the world the best of you, instead of what’s left of you.” — Katie Reed

“Owning our story and loving ourselves through that process is the bravest thing we’ll ever do.” — Brené Brown

“You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.” — Buddha

“You are not your illness. You have an individual story to tell. You have a name, a history, a personality. Staying yourself is part of the battle.” — Julian Seifter

“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.” — Maya Angelou

“Being vulnerable is a strength, not a weakness.” — Selena Gomez

“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about.” — Ian MacLaren

“Talk to yourself like you would to someone you love.” — Brené Brown

“Owning our story and loving ourselves through that process is the bravest thing we’ll ever do.” — Brené Brown

“You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.”— Martin Luther King Jr.

“Courage doesn’t happen when you have all the answers. It happens when you are ready to face the questions you’ve been avoiding your whole life.” — Shannon L. Alder

“To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance.” — Oscar Wilde

“Talk to yourself like you would to someone you love.” — Brené Brown

“Your present circumstances don’t determine where you can go; they merely determine where you start.” — Nido Qubein