Hey, mate,

I know things are tough right now. If you're anything like I was, you're probably feeling stuck and wondering how things got to this point. I’ve been there, bro—completely overwhelmed, feeling like I’d hit rock bottom and had no idea how to get back up. 

For me, life was chaotic for a long time. I grew up in an environment, where I was moving around a lot. There was lots of stuff going on at home and then having to figure out things at boarding school meant that by the time I was a teenager, I was carrying all this weight I didn’t understand. I tried to push through, pretending everything was fine, but the cracks kept showing. At my lowest, I was sleeping in my car, feeling like I didn’t belong anywhere and couldn’t see a way forward. That was the moment it hit me—I couldn’t keep living like that.

The first thing I did was admit to myself that I needed help. Honestly, that was the hardest part. I’d spent so much time thinking I had to handle it on my own. But when I opened up to one person—just one—it started to shift things. It wasn’t like everything got better overnight, but it gave me a bit of space to breathe.

When it comes to the people around you, I’ve learned that the right kind of support makes all the difference. The best thing someone did for me was just listen—no judgment, no “fix-it” advice—just being there. On the flip side, one of the hardest things to hear was, “It’s not that bad,” or, “You’ll be fine.” That stuff hurt because it made me feel like what I was going through didn’t matter. I had a lot of trauma to work through and seeing a therapist has been a huge help. 

If I could go back and talk to myself in those moments, I’d say: “You’re not weak for struggling. You’re human. It’s okay to not have it all together. Take it one step at a time—talk to someone, get some support, and don’t be afraid to lean on the people who care about you. Things won’t always be like this, but you’ve gotta give yourself a chance to see what’s on the other side.”

You’ve got this, bro. I know it doesn’t feel like it right now, but keep taking those small steps forward. You’re stronger than you think.
Take care,
Joe