I've had anxiety my entire life, even when I was a little girl, for no reason. I even remember being anxious of being in cars and of answering phones and stuff.

As an adult I self medicated for years with alcohol. I had what I consider my first "big" episode of depression when I was 24. I had problems with
my mood before that of course.

The thought of getting any sort of help never even crossed my mind. My family doesn't believe in mental illness, and I think if I told them I'm on meds their heads would explode or something. Before I moved out I timidly told my mom I thought I had a problem, but she just brushed it off.

So... I didn't get help until I got a DUI, went through alcohol wihdrawal, did those classes, and my counselor recognized I had an underlining situation, and referred me to a pnp.

Anyway, so it took me getting into trouble to get help.

I don't know if that means I was rewarded help? But I really did need it and wouldn't even have thought of getting it otherwise.