Samantha Ruth

The world doesn't understand Mental Illness. The world doesn't even talk enough about Mental Illness.... The world is about to change These 20 brave souls share their raw, real stories bringing you through the journey from stigma to health. Together, they are taking the first step in a movement to increase awareness, educate people, provide support, encourage compassion and understanding, give hope and love for those who struggle with a mental illness and by doing so, truly STOP the stigma surrounding mental illness, because mental illness is not always what you think. Through our stories, you will be inspired, educated, transformed and we trust you will be also moved to join our fight to stop the stigma on an illness that is real, invisible and highly misunderstood and stigmatized. Join us in our movement to break the silence and together impact lives, bring hope and change the way the world sees mental illness.

Through the 20 powerful stories in this book you will discover how life changes when you give yourself permission to stand up, show up and be seen.

What other people think of me is none of my business. For over 40 years, I lived this halfway. Because generally speaking, it never matters to me what anyone thinks. But let's be clear. I've always cared what my parents, mentors, teachers, and colleagues think. It took my world shattering for me to realize that I've always been distracted by this outside noise. I had to make the conscious decision to tune it all out. To listen to my voice only. To pick up the pieces and find a way to put them together. And that's when things began to change. And through this journey, I realized that so many of us live life the way we think we're supposed to. The way others expect us to. Confining ourselves to their visions, rather than living our own. This is my story of self discovery, pain, loss, healing, persistence, and ultimately of learning to accept and embrace MY true self. I hope it helps you see your quirks as your strengths, and gives you the inspiration to turn your pain into your power.