Sonder: Youth Mental Health Stories of Struggle & Strength | Page 71

of potential. I create artwork in order to express my emotions
and also help to de-stigmatize the world of mental illness. Art
has spoken to me in ways that truly make my soul feel at home
and if I can create something that evokes a feeling in another
person, that is extremely significant to me. These are a few of
my works of poetry and drawings I have created surrounding
mental health, especially eating disorders. The ballerina in
my piece I’ve named “Dancing with Death” is holding a knife
and being controlled like a puppet, similarly to how an eating
disorder has its hold on their victim. I was dancing with death
throughout the time that I was very ill, mentally and physically.
My eating disorder took over my values, essential pieces of
who I am. The poems I wrote from a place where I used the
imagination of my funeral as a motivator to eat and stay alive.
It persuaded me to continue the arduous journey of recovery.
I want to be able to help others with accepting themselves for
who they are. Each person and each body is incredibly beautiful
and unique, which goes unnoticed due to so much expectation
in society and self-hatred. I want to be a part of a mission that is
to celebrate each person and learn to appreciate differences. ● 
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