The GHWIN Blog
Growing Up Different
Let me paint the picture of who I was back then: a tall girl, usually the tallest in my class, with feet to match. There weren’t tall sizes in girls' clothing back then, so my outfits never fit quite right. I had bushy eyebrows, big lips (not trendy in the ’80s and ’90s), and eventually, braces.
I was part of the “popular” crowd but not in the way you’d think. I was their punching bag. It took years for me to realize I was never truly part of the group. Every day was unpredictable. Would I be made fun of, ignored, or treated kindly because someone wanted something from me?
The constant anxiety and humiliation made me withdraw. I tried to disappear at school—to never be noticed or called on. I silenced parts of myself in hopes of lessening the abuse. It never worked.
The Breaking Point
By junior high, things escalated. I started receiving death threats—real, terrifying calls to my home. We had landlines and answering machines then, so I couldn’t hide them from my parents.
I was overwhelmed, isolated, and broken. I didn’t see a way out. The relentless abuse drove me to attempt to take my own life several times. I didn’t believe my life had value.
Eventually, I was hospitalized in a psychiatric ward for children and teens. What might sound terrifying to others was, for me, a place of solace. For 10 days, I felt free to be myself. I met other kids struggling with being teenagers, and for the first time, I felt seen.
The Path to Healing
Through therapy and outpatient programs, I began to heal. I found my worth, little by little. For years, I carried shame about that part of my life. But one day, I met a teenage girl who confided in me that she didn’t want to live. I told her my story.
That moment changed everything. Speaking my truth made me realize that healing deepens when you shed the shame, and shame dissolves when you share your story with the world.
What I Know Now
If I could go back and tell my younger self anything, it would be this: life gets better. My life now is incredible. I have a loving, intelligent husband who saw and loved me for who I was, even in my darkest moments. Together, we have an amazing son who fills our lives with joy.
The challenges I faced also gave me the greatest gift: a lifelong commitment to working on myself, inside and out. It’s a journey, but one I’m privileged to be on.
Why GHWIN Matters
Not everyone has the resources I’ve had. Too many people are left behind, struggling in silence because they can’t afford the help they need. How do we change that?
For me, the answer is making knowledge and access affordable and available to everyone. That’s where GHWIN comes in. By supporting startups focused on well-being and behavioral health, we can lower costs and expand access, ensuring more people get the help they need.
No one should have to endure the pain I did, let alone feel they have no way out. Behavioral health resources save lives, and expanding access to them is a mission I’m proud to support.
To anyone reading this who feels unseen or unheard: you are not alone. Your story matters. You matter. Together, we can make a difference.
Breaking the Silence: My Journey with Behavioral Health and Why GHWIN Matters
Lauren Kane, January 2025
Usually, when I write, I’m direct and to the point. But this time, it’s different. This time, it’s personal. It’s my story—a story that deserves more words because it carries a weight I’ve only recently begun to share. It’s about why GHWIN resonates deeply with me and why behavioral health is a topic I’m passionate towards.
GHWIN is focusing on behavioral health for the month of January and, initially, I thought I would write a general blog post about the topic. But doing so would mean I was hiding, and if I hide, “they” win. The “they” I’m referring to are the bullies who shaped much of my childhood experience, who left scars that took years to heal.