I came to Mercy completely hopeless and numb. I thought my life was pointless and that the future was something I did not want to be a part of. Although I grew up in a loving and nurturing environment, I felt like I could never measure up. I strived for perfection in everything and, of course, I was left disappointed. I had been sexually abused, and that left me with many unanswered questions and much confusion. I began to deal with severe depression and escaped from the harsh realities of the world any way that I could. I got lost in literature, work and music, all to run from what had become so overwhelming. I began to self-harm as a means of coping with pain.
I finally came to a point in my life where I could not take it anymore. I decided that the life I was living was not worth living. I found Mercy Ministries on the internet and with the assistance of my parents I was soon enrolled in the program. It was then that for the first time I felt hope.