Himangi

40 | Divorced | Strategic Communications Consultant

I've lived through adverse childhood experiences, recurrent depression, heartbreak, workplace anxiety, relocation, existential crisis and career changes, post-traumatic stress, and chronic fatigue. Despite my best efforts at controlling life, I've experienced losses of various kinds, both personal and professional - grief, divorce, loss of pregnancy, chronic illness, brain fog, unemployment, despair from losing my abilities and quitting my dreams, and a lack of social support through it all. These were all life-altering events, and all part of the human experience, but neglect by the people and professionals I depended upon made them traumatic for me. I've had to work hard at speaking up for myself, accepting my situation, being compassionate towards myself and others, making difficult life choices, and picking up the pieces after each setback. Family and friends can't always support us through emotional ups and downs, some of them even deny our truth or walk out of our lives. Therapists can support us with recovery, but peers can truly understand what we're going through, be empathetic, and make us feel less alone in this world. I read extensively about mental health, trauma, and wellbeing, to stay informed. I'm here because I recognize the huge difference peers can make in how we feel about ourselves - I hope you reach out and speak to someone