April Angela Garcia

Fighting Silence, Breaking Free from the Stigma

April Angela Garcia • Victoria, Texas

“Fighting silence, breaking free from the stigma, choosing to stay and glow.”

Personal Story

Hi there! I’m April Angela. I invite you to a viewing of my life that most people don’t get to see—the chaos in my mind.

I am a suicide survivor. I have suffered through a great deal of prolonged trauma. I live with major depressive disorder, borderline personality disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, severe post-traumatic stress disorder, substance use disorder, and psychosis. I attend therapy and group weekly. I have been prescribed medication, I see a psychiatrist monthly, and I am on disability due to the severity of my mental health.

I would be of no service if I were not honest. It has not been easy. Since I was a child, I was the “good, quiet, obedient girl.” One word sums it up: silenced.

As I got older, everyone started labeling me as mean, always angry, impulsive, and a bad influence. When I became an adult, the labels got worse. My actions began to match the titles everyone was placing on me, and along the way, my identity got lost.

I couldn’t hold down a job. I couldn’t keep a stable relationship or friendship. I was the black sheep of the entire family, along with my best cousin and a couple of other cousins. No one ever bothered to ask or listen.

I have always loved to draw, take pictures, and write. In elementary school, I placed first and second in art projects, and I received high scores in journaling. When I reached middle school and high school, I stopped doing everything.

In 2022, I had a major “moment” that I had not experienced in a while. It had to have been the worst one yet. I was experiencing homicidal ideations, and I attempted suicide over a three-day period. Long story short, I found myself at a mental-health facility, which turned out to be a blessing. In the end, I picked art and writing back up.

In the middle of those struggles and all that noise, I found my voice through creating art. Drawing, crafting, photography, and writing helped distract me from the storm in my chest, the screaming audience in my head, and the chaos around me.

Art became my outlet—a way for me to express myself, my thoughts, and the emotions that I could not express with words. I want my story and my art to give hope to those who suffer alone and in silence in the dark.

If I can become a glow in the dark and help one person choose not to give up, raise their voice, fight another day, choose to stay, turn their life around, and become that glow for someone else—and the cycle continues—then my purpose here on Earth, and every scar left on my mind, heart, and soul, has served its purpose.

If we help each other, together we can become a lighthouse.

I hope you enjoy the gallery and find something relatable to your own story that will help you find your way out of the dark. Thank you. ♥

Contact

Whether it’s a quick note of encouragement, a thank-you, or a long letter from your heart, I see you, and I appreciate your words, love, and support.

Email: Pocaahontaas361@gmail (as written in the original)

TikTok: @Browngoddess361

Snapchat: AprilAngela / browngoddess361

Facebook: April Angela Garcia

Instagram: Not listed

Crisis Support Resources

If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts and needs immediate support, please reach out to someone you trust for help. You do not have to carry the weight alone. You are not alone. Your life matters. You matter.

Call or text 988. The Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is free, confidential, and available 24/7. You can call, text, or visit 988lifeline.org.
You can also contact your local mental-health authority, behavioral-health authority, or other community resources.
The Trevor Project is a suicide hotline for LGBTQ youth. It is available 24/7 and is completely confidential. Visit thetrevorproject.org, text START to 678-678, or call 1-866-488-7386.
The Crisis Text Line is also free, confidential, and available 24/7. Visit crisistextline.org or text HOME or HOLA to 741741.
You can also visit Befrienders Worldwide to find a helpline.

Acknowledgments

This journey has been a painful path, but with that pain came purpose. Now I understand: “Why not me?” I’m grateful for every smile and every tear. With that said:

To God: First and foremost, thank You for giving me breath, resilience, and the purpose to turn my deepest shadows into light. This journey is entirely in Your hands.

To Mama: Thank you for your endless love, your presence, and for standing by me through the storm. Your support means more than words can say.

To Aunt Sofia: Thank you for being such an incredible inspiration. I look up to you so much for the way you faced everything you went through, turned your life around, and built something better. Your strength gives me hope.

To Yvette, Rose, and Joe: Thank you to each of you individually for showing me what true connection and unconditional love mean. Yvette (1984–2023), for being the sister I needed; Rose, for being the daughter I prayed and dreamed for; and Joe, for being the greatest love of my life.

Each of your presences grounded me, and each of your absences gifted me with the greatest grief. That grief has given me an undeniable strength that keeps me moving forward.

To Kevin Gates: A deeply personal thank-you for your music and raw honesty. Your words found me in the dark and have literally saved my life on more than one occasion.

To Brian Belt: A special thank-you for your continued support and guidance as I navigate the darkness and bring this vision to life.

Support the Mission

If you would like to be a glow for others or help Brian’s mission of breaking the stigma that surrounds mental health, you can donate to the Stigmafree.art gallery fundraiser through the PayPal charity link below.

https://www.paypal.com/us/fundraiser/charity/4242387

Thank you!