My greatest challenge is living in a world that was not designed for me. I was diagnosed with schizoeffective disorder-bipolar at the age of 39. I have PTSD, OSC, GAD, panic disorder, agoraphobia and I hear voices all the time. I didn't leave my house for over 2 years. My therapist recommended I try going back to college as social therapy. 4 years later I graduated from Virginia Wesleyan University with a BA, Aug. 2019, and I am in a master's program at Old Dominion University. I study mental disorders, psychedelic-assisted therapy, and disability studies. I attend and present at conferences. I always have my service dog Baylee at my side. I want to make others aware that we are neurodivergent and we are everywhere. We, I am not invisible. People with mental illnesses can enrich our lives.
