Dear Tempestt,

If I could sit beside you now, I’d want you to know that everything you’re feeling is real and it matters. You’ve just been admitted to the hospital because you’re really sad and anxious and you’re only 16 years old. I know you’re scared and unsure about what the future holds, but I’m here to tell you: it gets better.

You’ve already gone through more than any child or teenager should have to, from dealing with neglect and abuse from the family to sleep apnea and its effects. It’s not fair, and it’s okay that you’re upset about it. I’ll be honest, you’re going to struggle with those feelings for many years, but you will find peace and strength on the other side of that struggle.

Your emotions are nothing to be ashamed of.

You’ve always been different and that difference has sometimes felt like a burden. In elementary school, you struggled to speak the way other kids did. Your speech impediment made you stand out and not in the way you wanted. The teachers wanted to put you in special education, but your parents fought for you to stay in regular classes. I know how much it hurt to be misunderstood, to feel like you didn’t fit in anywhere. I know the bullying was excruciating. You survived, though.

By now, with this time in the hospital, you’ve also realized that you have to take your mental health seriously. It’s not something to ignore or push down like Dad has tried to make you believe. You can’t think or will your way out of anxiety and depression; you’ve got to get some help.

I’ll let you in on a little secret from the future – even the adults don’t have everything figured out. But I know you, Tempestt. I know you’ve got the grit, determination and resilience to put one foot in front of the other and never back down from obstacles.

You will get through these hard times. You’ve got this.

You’re going to graduate from high school, and it’s going to be one of the best days of your life. Freedom and exploration are waiting for you on the other side of graduation. Through all the moving around in your young adulthood, at times you’re still going to struggle finding your footing in the world.

But in 2020, you’re going to move to Colorado, and that’s where you’ll find WellPower.

When you begin getting mental health services with WellPower, you’re going to learn that you have major depressive disorder and severe anxiety. You will finally have names and diagnoses for the feelings you’ve dealt with for all your living memory. And once you learn that, you’re going to run full speed towards healing.

You’re not going to feel so alone anymore, Tempestt. You’re going to discover that you have a remarkable gift for pulling community around you and making connections. You’ll take classes at WellPower’s NextChapter, a place for community, classes and so much more. You’ll spend time in the art studio, discover a love of fitness at your local gym and create an online community of people going through similar experiences to you.

You find places where you belong, and that feeling of belonging is like the softest, coziest blanket around your soul. The folks at WellPower help you learn new coping skills, find out about your own needs and ask questions without fear. For the first time, you will truly feel understood. You’ll have other people to support you as you navigate life’s challenges together.

The challenges aren’t over, but you’re equipped to handle them.

I know your relationships with the family are complicated and messy. It’s going to take a while to recognize that what you’re dealing with is verbal abuse, medical neglect and the pain of not getting what you need from the people who are supposed to love you most.

Dad will eventually pass away from cancer, and it’s okay that you’ll feel relief to be free of his abuse. You don’t need to feel guilty – your emotions are valid.

Much like any young adult finding their way in the world and navigating society without the right tools, you’re going to struggle with social expectations in the work environment. You’ll come to realize that how you grew up really impacted how you function at work. But I have great news – you WILL find a job that feels just perfect for you, and the relief it brings will be unimaginable.

Now, in the year 2025, you have a new job as a registered behavioral technician where you help people by teaching life skills, collaborating with families and supporting hands-on behavioral health therapies to support your clients. You love what you do, and it feels like everything you went through prepared you for this role. In fact, the exact challenges you’ve faced up to this point will be the very things that lead you to some of your greatest skills in life: resilience, empathy, compassion and holding space for others.

We’ve learned that asking for help is not only okay, but a good thing to do.

I understand that asking for help is hard. I know it feels like failing, but it isn’t. Mental health services aren’t for the weak, they’re for people who know that strength comes in many forms. Resilience is your superpower, Tempestt. Even in these dark moments, sitting in the hospital at age 16 and wondering what your future has in store, you have a flame of resilience burning in your soul that no one can extinguish.

You will persevere through everything life throws at you. You’ll go to college, earn degrees, work in different places around the world and meet people who value you for who you are. And most importantly, you’ll be excited about the future—engaging more in the community, dating, getting married, seeing the mountains, traveling and going back to school (just to name a few). You know that as long as things stay balanced, all these dreams are possible.

You may not believe me, Tempestt, but in 2025 you wake up every day without dread. You look forward to each day, even if you don’t have a plan. You feel peace and harmony. Your fear and anxiety no longer weigh you down. Your depression isn’t suffocating you. You can breathe easy and just be.

So, hold on. Keep fighting. The world is tough, but you are tougher. There is hope, there is healing and there is a future full of peace, adventure and love. You are not alone and you never will be.

With all my love and hope,

Your Future Tempestt