A letter to 5 year old Sach...

Hey Sach. I hope you're doing well. I know you are. I remember that time quite fondly.

I'm writing this to say that you made it to your 23rd birthday. Happy birthday! I'm so immensely proud of you. You have overcome so much in life.

I'm not going to lie, life gets tough for a while. It'll get so dark and painful at times but I promise you, there is light at the end of the tunnel. I know you'll want to give up so badly. I know the pain is immeasurable. You'll feel weak. You'll feel worthless. You'll hate yourself at times. But I promise you, you are not weak or worthless. Keep fighting. Keep proving to the world that you are a warrior. You have so much power, light, and strength inside of you. Don't ever let anything tell you otherwise.

Here's some advice for you.

Be brave. I remember you being so brave at 12 when you first told mum that you were struggling. But keep asking for help when you need it. It doesn't make you weak to ask for help. Don't push your loved ones away, even though I know it's the easy option. Let them in. Tell them when you're struggling and need support.

Be patient. I know it feels like the suffering is never-ending, and to be honest, you will be hurting for a long time. But the pain eases over time. You'll still have bad days sometimes, but the good days outweigh the bad. Time is one of the greatest healers.

Be grateful. I know that things are so difficult sometimes, and you'll even consider taking your own life. But you have so much to be grateful for. Firstly, your mum is an angel, so always appreciate her. Secondly, you have friends and family who love you so much - never take them for granted. Thirdly, you have a home, food, money, and clothes. There are so many people across the world who could only dream of having what you have. Always practice gratitude.

Be kind to yourself. Over the years, you will be so cruel to your mind and body. Don't punish yourself for things outside your control. I know your mental health will take a toll on you, in every way, but your mind, body, and soul has gotten you through all adversities, so appreciate your determination. You're stuck with yourself for the rest of your life, so you should love yourself. I'm still working on that, but we will get there.

I just wanted to say that I am so proud of you. You are a unique, kind-hearted, intelligent, courageous individual. Don't ever think otherwise. Don't ever lose those qualities, and always be unapologetically yourself. I hope you know how loved you are, how special you are, and how lucky you are. You may go through a lot of hardships but you will come out the other side even stronger.

You got this!

Sach x