Poverty, Mental Health, and the Power of Resilience
Your circumstances do not define your worth or your future.
Have you ever felt embarrassed about where you came from? Or looked at someone else's life and wondered why things seemed so much easier for them? Maybe you've passed up opportunities because deep down, you didn't feel good enough or believed they weren't meant for someone like you.
If any of these sound familiar, I can relate more than you might think.
For a long time, I didn't realize how much growing up in poverty had affected my confidence, self-worth, and mental health. I thought shame, insecurity, and feelings of inadequacy were just part of who I was. It took me years to understand that those feelings were shaped by my experiences, not by my worth as a person.
I want to share a little of my story with you because sometimes, knowing someone else has walked a similar path can remind us that we're not alone.
I grew up in a household filled with extended family, where my mother and grandparents did their best to make ends meet. We didn't have much, but we made do with what we had. I still remember feeling embarrassed at the grocery store, paying with food stamps or rolled-up pennies, hoping no one from school would see me. My siblings and I would collect and crush cans to earn a little extra money, and there were plenty of times we found ourselves pushing my mom's old station wagon off the road after it broke down. Looking back, these memories remind me of how hard my family worked to get by, but also how much shame I carried as a child over circumstances I had no control over.
What I didn't understand then was how deeply poverty could affect my mental health.
Research shows that people living in poverty are more likely to experience depression, anxiety, and other mental health challenges (Ridley et al., 2020). Constant financial stress, uncertainty, and feelings of helplessness can slowly change how we view ourselves and the world around us.
Sometimes, we become so accustomed to struggling that we stop believing opportunities are meant for us. We begin to feel undeserving, even when those opportunities are right in front of us.
But I want you to know something: Where you come from does not determine where you can go.
In 2008, while attending vocational nursing school in San Antonio, Texas, my two-year-old daughter and I became homeless. I was scared and overwhelmed, but I refused to give up. With help from the Salvation Army, which provided shelter and childcare, I completed nursing school and earned my Licensed Vocational Nursing certificate.
Looking back, I realize that resilience wasn't about being strong every day. There were days I felt defeated, cried, and questioned whether I could keep going. Resilience was finding the courage to keep trying, even when I couldn't see a way forward.
And just as importantly, I learned that asking for help wasn't weakness. It was one of the strongest things I could do.
If you're struggling today, I encourage you to start small. Take care of your mental health. Talk to someone you trust, seek professional support when needed, surround yourself with people who encourage you, and set one achievable goal. You don't have to figure everything out today.
And please, stop comparing your journey to someone else's. We all start from different places, face different challenges, and grow at our own pace.
Poverty may shape your experiences, but it does not define your value, your potential, or your future.
I share my story because I know what it feels like to believe you're not good enough or that a better life is meant for someone else. I also know that with support, perseverance, and the willingness to seek help, change is possible.
You deserve opportunities. You deserve happiness. You deserve peace of mind.
And above all, you deserve to believe in yourself.
Your story isn't over. You're still writing it.
From Ashes to Bloom Mental Health is here to encourage you as you take those first steps toward better mental health, resilience, and a brighter future.
References
Ridley, M., Rao, G., Schilbach, F., & Patel, V. (2020). Poverty, depression, and anxiety: Causal evidence and mechanisms. Science, 370(6522). https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aay0214
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