As someone who struggles with mental illness, I always have a topic to write about. Writing is a prominent coping skill not only in my childhood, but still today. Many people ask me,"do you write happy stuff?" The answer, no. I do not write when I am happy. No one wants to hear how great someone else thinks their life is! For me, writing is more than just an activity to do when you are bored, it is a coping skill and a way to get myself out of my head. By focusing on how to describe my emotions and thoughts, I am more concerned with my word choice than the problem at hand. It is helpful and there is not a wrong way to go about it. I originally started with poetry and moved on to song lyrics, eventually producing some music. If my writing can help shed light on mental illness to even just one person, that will be enough for me. Hopefully, my work will inspire others to open about their issues or situations as well.