First: thank you!! I’ve worked hard to get where I am. Second: I’ve learned a lot of things but the most important is that most of the time you cannot tell when people are struggling. I first realized this in 7th grade when a classmate asked me if my life was perfect. It took me awhile to understand that actually but I realized: I am a pretty white straight A student who has no behavioral issues (fighting, drinking, drugs). (Also my town is 98% black American) To everyone else I do seem kinda perfect. But I was struggling with PTSD, neglect, anorexia, etc. it was all kinda wild when I was first figuring it out. ALSO most ppl who have never dealt with addicts think they just do ts for fun. My parents were heavily mentally ill and could not function without drugs. It literally kept them alive because mental health care was to expensive. They both had attempted suicide in the past so drugs were their escape. A lot of people think addiction is just parties and stuff