Hi! Many of you may know me as Scooter, the upbeat energetic person that cares about so many. But little do you know I had to learn to care for myself first. I had my first bout of Depression in college, but with stigmas in the black community, I didn’t identify or take it seriously. Through a life of alcoholism, which has a major impact on serotonin and mood, I soon started to recognize negative patterns in my life. At one point in my adulthood, I realized I needed help and was diagnosed with Bipolar Depressive Disorder. The alcohol had a hold of me it was my choice of medication. It wasn’t until COVID hit that I realized I needed to seek some serious help. Through the help of my company’s EAP program, I sought therapy on my own and took my illness seriously.