You Are Not Alone
#999Stories of Mental Health
Live Free 999 encourages everyone to speak openly about mental health. We have created a space to share the stories sent to us from our audience to inspire others to share their own journeys, creating a virtual story-telling chain of community and support.
Notice: Some of the stories shared may contain topics that could be emotionally triggering to some members of our audience. Topics such as suicide, self-harm, substance abuse, and trauma are discussed.
Anonymous Submission
I grew up around lots of neighborhoods where drugs are common and that was the start of a long hard battle against addiction, depression, and substance abuse. My story begins when I was first exposed to drugs and people vaping and smoking and this desensitized me.I took my first hit of a vape and then after purchasing one I was
Chris’ Story
It all started when I was just a kid in elementary school. I struggled with a constant, unexplainable anxiety that I didn’t even realize was there. Back then, I couldn’t name it, but I felt it in every racing heartbeat and every restless night. As I moved into middle school, that anxiety grew louder, turning almost every day into a
Erin’s Story
Hi, my name is Erin! I am a heart-on-my-sleeve person, so my story will be pretty honest. I grew up with a mother who was addicted to opioid medications. My mother suffered a severe back injury from our above-ground pool, where she fell. I was there as a young child and witnessed the whole thing. After that…the mom I once had was
Sidney’s Story
My name is Sidney, and I’m 20-years-old. I’ve definitely had my fair share of experiencing hardships throughout my life. Let me first off start by saying my life hasn’t always been easy, but really, whose life is easy? I was born with a rare eye condition called “Keratectasia,” which means bulging corneas of the eyes. The front halves of my
G’s Story
I’ve struggled with my mental health for as long as I can remember. It went unnoticed by the people around me up until my teenage years. I ended up in a relationship with someone who was able to use my mental illness against me and manipulated me for 5 years. After that I started using drugs, I just remember all
Lunacy’s Story
I know many people have gone through the same thing—a relationship that didn’t work out and left them broken. In my case, it happened almost three years ago. After being with that person, I fell into deep depression. I didn’t know what to do anymore; I didn’t even recognize myself. I tried to find my way, but in the process,
Emma’s Story
I have struggled with anxiety, depression, and bipolar for years. I realized that my mental health and self-love comes first.But it wasn’t always like this, for me.I used to have bad thoughts a lot, in my teenage years. I thought I was unloved by all my family and friends and struggled with self harm a lot as well.I first heard
Kaleb’s Story
My story is long and probably similar to a lot of others, but i just thought i would share a good-bye letter to perks because when i wrote it in rehab, an astonishing amount of fellow addicts wanted a copy to take home with them. Im sure it will resonate with some of you… Dear Percocet, I had never understood
Jacob’s Story
Battling substance use disorder and anxiety is a deeply personal and often tumultuous journey that many individuals face. For me, the onset of anxiety was subtle, creeping into my life during my teenage years. It manifested as overwhelming feelings of worry and dread, making it challenging to navigate daily activities. I sought comfort in substances, initially believing that they would
