Taylor Geissler

Hi, I’m Taylor (She/her/hers). I’m from South Jersey, and I’m a junior at UD. I’m majoring in Human Services with a concentration in pre-social work/counseling, and I have a minor in Women and Gender Studies, as well as a certification in Spanish. I plan to earn a master’s degree in social work to become a licensed social worker.

I love crafting, reading, hiking, and fishing, and I enjoy just about any activity outdoors. In addition to my hobbies, I work at Upper East Bay Counseling Center, where I help patients with severe mental illness navigate their day-to-day lives. My passion for supporting others comes from my own journey with mental health challenges, which has shaped who I am and the path I’ve chosen.

I always felt different from my friends. In elementary school, I’d get chest pains and hyperventilate when I cried. By middle school, I was struggling with daily panic attacks, depression, and family problems at home. I quit all of my activities due to my crippling anxiety. I was so embarrassed and ashamed of my mental health struggles and maladaptive coping skills. I tried to hide it from everyone in hopes they would think I’m “normal” like them. As I bottled everything up, my mental health only got worse and worse. In high school, I struggled to get out of bed. I believed I would never get better and lost all hope. I developed a chronic stomach illness partly from my poor mental health. I came to a point where I couldn’t handle it anymore. In my sophomore year, I reached my breaking point and tried to end my life. Thankfully, I was admitted into a psychiatric facility. I finally received the support and validation of my mental health struggles. The hospital did not cure my mental health problems, but it gave me a stepping stone. I had access to resources I didn’t even know existed previously. I didn’t feel alone anymore. I met people who struggled with the same things I did. I worked with my support team to communicate my emotions to my family and to lean on them. I prioritized my mental health before anything else.

If I could communicate to anyone who is struggling like I was, I want to say that it does get better, and I am living proof of that. I am so grateful to be here today and for pushing through my dark times. I can truly say now, it was worth it. All the pain and days where I thought they would never end, it was worth it to be who and where I am now. It’s important to know you’re not alone. You don’t have to feel ashamed of your mental health symptoms or your emotions. Healing takes time, but you don’t have to go through it alone.