#BeBetter

It's never been easy these past few months for myself. I never thought it will ever happen to me, but things have changed a lot lately.

I miss my old self, that person who always sees the brighter side of things; the person who you can always count on, the person who's always there to comfort you; that person who always loves to meet and influence people has become unrecognizable. It all began one day, when I suddenly felt lonely, isolated and drowned with sadness.

I was in denial for a couple of months. I always tell to myself that everything's going to be alright. I lied to myself that what I felt is only temporary and it will go away once I focus my attention to something else. But no, it's so hard to go back to the surface and breath once you're drowned with depression. Some might say that this is just a phase and everything will pass by, no. Every time I ignore what's happening, it gets worse, it consumes my self-esteem, it destroys my capability to do things that I wanted to accomplish, and I am afraid that someday, hopefully not soon, it will hinder me from living my life to the fullest.

Yes, I am suffering from depression. I've never been more afraid to admit what's happening to me — afraid of being judged by others, afraid of the stigma thrown by people who don't understand my situation and sufferings.

But here I am, I have to acknowledge the fact that I am not alright but I can be. I have to be honest with myself and face my truth. Admitting that I have depression is a stepping stone. I need to be strong not only for myself but also for my family whom I love the most in the world.

And with this, I am planning to seek professional help recommended by a friend who's suffering the same situation as I am, but the cost of consultation, follow-up sessions and medication will cost a lot here in the Philippines, where mental health is not a top priority. And with your help, I hope I can realize the next step towards becoming the better version of myself. The version of myself who's ready to lend a helping hand to those who are in need and who's ready to influence the people to do good and positive things for the community.

Based on my estimation, I intend to raise $5,000 to cover future consultations and medication.

If you could support my GoGetFunding campaign by making a donation and then sharing it with your network, I would greatly appreciate it. I know that money can be tight, so please know that even $5 helps me get closer to my goal. Please do not hesitate to ask questions.