At first glance, Alicia seems like any other teenager. She loves painting her nails, spending time with friends, and dreams of becoming a nurse. But her bright smile and big personality mask a powerful story of survival, strength, and transformation.
Alicia experienced her first panic attack at just eight years old. By 17, she was no stranger to the complexities of mental health, facing chronic depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. On top of that, she turned to substance use to cope with the pain of losing loved ones and growing up in an unstable home environment.
“I knew I had struggled with anxiety and depression because of what happened in my own life—losing my brother, my dad, in and out of hospitals,” she shares. “A lot of things I shouldn’t have had to go through as a young child just play over and over in my head.”
Like so many teens, Alicia reached a breaking point. Her addiction started as a way to numb the pain. “Addiction didn’t really help. It was just a way to block out what was going on,” she says. But the spiral continued until her family stepped in—and that’s when everything changed.
Alicia was referred to Youth Outreach Services (YOS) for mental health counseling and substance use treatment. For the first time, she found a place where she felt safe, supported, and understood. Through YOS, Alicia accessed therapy, peer recovery services, and a sober learning environment—critical tools in helping her rebuild her foundation.
“You can’t build a house on a shaky foundation,” she says. “When you have that foundation of trauma, you can’t just build new experiences on it.” But with the support of her YOS team and recovery peers, Alicia began to lay the groundwork for a new future.
Today, Alicia is over a year into recovery. She’s attending a high school that supports youth in recovery, has built strong relationships, and continues to find new ways to care for her mental health. From quiet nights with her dog to joyful moments with friends, Alicia has created a life rooted in connection and healing.
“I still get anxiety and depression, but it gets easier,” she says. “Today is a new day. Tomorrow’s going to be a new day. I’m trying to stay in the present.”
Her journey is a reminder that no young person should have to face mental health challenges alone—and that with the right support, healing is not only possible, it’s powerful.
Youth Outreach Services is proud to walk alongside youth like Alicia every day, offering compassionate, youth-centered care that makes a lasting difference because every young person deserves a chance to thrive.
***Not her real name or photo***