If you're feeling blue, read this. . .

.

Hey there you!

Yeah, you.

Looks like you've made your way over here. If you're reading this, it means you're not feeling to great. Or, maybe you feel fine and are just curious.

Either way, hey there!

My name's Sydney, and I'm gonna tell you a story.

When I was about 10, I started feeling anxious. My middle finger on my right hand was always tapping up and down on a hard surface, and it never stopped. Every time I found myself in a questionable situation, whether it be in the dark alone at night or texting my friend who didn't reply back quickly, I felt really, really anxious.

It was pretty small back then, not really always on my mind. I just felt different, and thought that there was something wrong with me. I mean, there had to be, right? Why else would I be feeling this way?

Was I sick in the head? Was I sick physically? What was wrong with me?

I went through life as normal, however, my insecurities at the back of my mind.

Time skip to when I was 11. Things started changing, and changing RAPIDLY. My body was changing as I started hitting puberty, along with all the hormonal changes in my mind. For some reason I found it a lot harder to contain my emotions. Not only that, I developed a new awareness of my body I hadn't had before. This part of me was too chubby, or one of my eyes was smaller than the other. My nose looked weird. My ears looked weird.

My insecurities started coming with EVERYTHING. Every single thing that happened in my daily life, my mind took it as a sign something was horribly wrong. My best friend didn't reply immediately? Oh, they hate me. My little sister is crying because I didn't want to play with her for the 16th time today, and my parents are stressed out? It's all my fault.

I noticed these thoughts, and kept thinking. What was wrong with me? What was wrong with me? Am I going insane?

My symptoms kept getting worse, and worse, and I kept feeling as though nobody loved me.

Then, I decided to go for it. End it all!

Needless to say, it didn't work.

And I cannot put into words HOW glad I am that it failed.

You didn't come here to read about my story though, you're here because you're feeling sad, lonely, and don't know what to do. Maybe you're even having some intrusive and dangerous thoughts.

Well, I have something I need you to do for me.

First: Go grab a glass of water, if you don't have one yet.

You got one?

You sure?

Good.

Second: Take a few sips. Is that refreshing? If not, take a few more.