To Better Mental Well-Being Mile By Mile | My Journey to the Start

"Since I started running, I've never really had a terrible depressive period. I'm not saying it's a cure. I still have those intrusive thoughts, but they are really not that loud anymore."
Abigail Castillo was born and raised in the Philippines, before coming to New York City in late 2022 to pursue higher education. In 2018, while living in the Philippines, she was diagnosed with bipolar II disorder after years of experiencing intense depressive episodes. Since the diagnosis, running has played a large role in maintaining Abigail’s mental health, with exercise helping to declutter her thoughts. Any time she feels her brain begin to spiral; she goes for a run and finds peace. As she puts it, "I've learned that my condition does not define who I am. It's a condition I need to manage, and I will probably struggle with my whole life, but it's not the end of everything."

[@sheenaboone2054]

Thank you for sharing this. The first step to dealing with mental issues is to acknowledge it and not feel shamed by it. Admitting that I suffer from depression and anxiety was a great relief. It helped me understand what was happening and why. I know that I will continue to have bouts -that is something that is part of me. But thanks to running and therapy, it no longer defines me.

[@UltrabionicAnge]

It's so nice to see and hear a Filipina talk openly about mental well-being - it's so hard to talk about it in the Philippines.

[@MindfulSimpleSolutions]

Thank you so much for sharing your story and most importantly for being vulnerable🙏💕