08/16/2026
*TRIGGER WARNING / MENTAL HEALTH TOPICS*
Many of you have probably seen that I have not been as active on social media, and I’ve been posting much less than usual. Maybe I haven’t been texting back as quickly, or even at all. I’m not acting as silly or goofy. Maybe I seem distant.
As embarrassing as this may be to share on this platform, I have been fighting a very dark battle with mental health. I want to share this because I know so many people do too, but they are too afraid to talk about it or seek help.
I have struggled with anxiety and depression since I was 14 years old, but the more severe symptoms haven’t been present since 2020. Unfortunately, they have returned and I have been quietly dealing with them for the past few months.
When Walter passed away, things got really bad. I felt extremely guilty and sad about his sudden passing, and I had so much regret. Instead of sitting with those feelings and working through them, I just kind of displaced them and tried to distract myself with other things. I threw myself full force into fostering and helping other senior dogs in need. I would “doom scroll” on my phone nonstop and always needed something to do or think about. Until finally, I was forced to face the truth… I need help beyond all of the distractions.
I have been so passionate about animal rescue work because dogs were my safe space and they healed my brokenness, but ignoring the root of the problem can only work until it doesn’t, and everything underneath became impossible to ignore. That is not to say my dogs didn’t help, because of course they’ve loved me unconditionally through all of it. But even so, I’ve been unsuccessful in healing from my past.
I recently started therapy and it has reopened a lot of old wounds, but it has also taught me so much more about myself. The more I uncover, it almost feels like I get further away from healing — but I’m actually getting much closer to what’s truly been going on inside, and that will lead me to what I need to become a better version of myself.
Please know I love sharing our lives with all of you — but if I am spending more time offline, please understand I am working through these things. 🩵
