A story I’ve shared with fewer than ten people in my life, and a testimonial aren’t things you would expect to see on a coaching website.

Many people told me it’s not good for my business, but because I know I could positively impact millions of women, I am going with my gut in the hope that it does.

If my purpose is to sincerely help women, whether professionally or personally, and prevent them from suffering by telling my story, then I know I am doing the right thing.

Today in the U.S., 26% of women experience depression, anxiety, and feelings of extreme loneliness.

One in seven has been diagnosed with PTSD, including myself.

I am dedicating my business to the strongest and most courageous woman I know: my mother, who suffered from clinical depression and mental illness.

Without her, I would not have been able to achieve the things I have in my life. Growing up with a mother who was mentally ill robbed me of any kind of “normalcy.” But in navigating the chaos of my everyday life, I developed tools and an incredible sense of strength and fortitude that I gained from overcoming the challenges of watching a parent suffer from this disease.

My mother suffered from severe depression but never gave up her belief that she would one day be free from the debilitating symptoms that wreaked havoc on her and our entire family. Her fortitude, her “never take no for an answer” attitude, her willingness to try every drug, see every psychiatrist, and even endure shock therapy (illegal now in the U.S.) in the hope of getting well, is the reason I have been able to build a life that, theoretically, I should not have been able to create for myself.

Her unwavering faith that somehow, someday, there would be a morning when she would wake up and feel “normal” took a belief system and a tremendous amount of courage that I had never witnessed before even to this day. Unfortunately, her day never came.

Children born into households with trauma don't develop the way other children do. Developmentally, our brains are not the same as those of other children. The standard processing and coping skills are not available because a child's brain that lives in “fight or flight” mode during trauma is wired for survival, not growth. It's not our fault.

I am not going to go into the scientific details regarding neuroplasticity, EMDR, and the human brain, but I strongly suggest you do some research if you're looking to understand yourself and to heal.

Psychology Today reports that “children who grew up in unstable and unpredictable households with mental illness can and do experience benefits later in life.”

Cognitive flexibility, which relates positively to creativity, an acute awareness of their surroundings, the ability to shift focus without a loss of accuracy, empathy, kindness, and above all else (in my case) resilience, are just a few of the characteristics cited in many articles and studies.

I am not suggesting this is a preferred way to grow up, but I made a decision to focus on the positive. It's a choice. You have a choice too.

If you are struggling yourself or have family members who are dealing with depression, please know you're not alone. You have the ability to live a life that is free of the chaos and stress that comes along with the disease.

In my case, I lived in complete denial (a strong coping mechanism which I know saved me) and focused on getting out of the situation (and the house) to stop the pain I was feeling. I focused on getting an education so I could get a job, earn a living, and leave it all behind. That was “the dream” that I later turned into my reality.

It was a miracle that I didn't turn to drugs or alcohol and didn't choose an abusive partner. My addiction came in the form of career hopping and continuing to educate myself as a way to numb myself. In the end, it served me well in my professional life but not as a woman and a human being.

I went to school, built a career, went to school again, and built another career, and on and on. That sums up what I continued to do most of my life until I realized I couldn't outrun my feelings.

The saying “you have to feel to heal” was life-changing for me. Please sit with that sentence if you have never heard it before.

Once I learned what was really necessary (feeling was one of them) to remove the toxic energy that was “stuck” in my body, the anger and sadness began to fade. It can happen for you too.

I have been grappling for a very long time with the idea of putting a dedication to my mom on my website and sharing her story. Whether it was my mom letting me know “it’s time” to get the message out, or the universe, I can say with 100% confidence that I know I am another (much-needed) conduit that will aid in the beginning of a long-overdue movement to eliminate the shame around the disease that robbed my mom of the joyful and fulfilled life she deserved.

My sole purpose is to start conversations around the world and shed a bright light on something that has been so unnecessarily kept in the dark because of ignorance and shame for absolutely no reason.

I am not a survivor. I am a thriver by choice. You too can move through this in your own way with some help.

Think about what you overcame. I can tell you that there are no challenges that you will face that will be stronger than you are. You already experienced (I can only speak for myself) the worst thing that a child could possibly face.

I lost my mother at the age of 60, not due to her attempts at suicide, but to a sudden heart attack. Watching her “fight” the disease, using her energy to get through each day, enduring decades of prescription drugs, and blaming herself for not being the mother she wanted to be—it was all too much.

It’s not necessary to suffer—especially alone. Mental illness is a disease that can and needs to be treated the same as any other illness.

My story is meant to inspire you, whether you choose to become a real estate agent or not.

Please reach out to professionals if you or someone you know is suffering.

Call a friend and start a conversation. Join me in helping eradicate the stigma of mental illness.

My mom, if she were here, would thank you.

National Mental Health Hotline 1.866.903.3787

https://mentalhealthhotline.org/

Crisis Lifeline 988

https://988lifeline.org