Interview #26 with Sienna Ponce

TW: Suicidal Ideation, Self Harm, Family Abuse
I spoke with Sienna Ponce, a 21-year-old majoring in Psychology at Florida International University. She speaks about how she's been dealing with her mental health ever since she was a young child. Growing up, she was a very hyper child, likely dealing with undiagnosed ADHD. She shares some of the struggles of being the only one in her family dealing with mental health issues and how when she finally started receiving diagnoses, it gave her some peace of mind knowing her struggles were real and she wasn't alone. She speaks about how being an adoptee has affected how she received help from her family and relates to others. We discuss the necessity of talking with others about our mental health and how important listening is. She speaks to how accommodating her school was in response to her mental health needs and how she found a therapist that she connected with. She shares about her recent diagnosis with a seizure disorder and how her forced isolation caused her to learn how to be alone and be there for herself.
#depression #anxiety #adhd #shame #abuse #suicidalthoughts #selfharm #therapy #endthestigma #mentalhealthmatters #itsokaytonotbeokay