All you need is love: National group gives reasons to fight through troubles

Days when you feel like you have nothing left to live for and the stresses of darkness seem to cloud your vision, the only thing you want to do is hide under a rock; away from society and away from the world. Sometimes you feel hatred for no reason, or depression that has come out of nowhere. Sometimes you feel so trapped in the stereotypes and standards of living that it’s just too much to handle.

Missi Dorff, a junior at Florida Gulf Coast University majoring in communication, wants to shed light on the heartbreaking subject for people who have been struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide. Not only is Dorff a huge supporter of the organization To Write Love on Her Arms, but she is also a victim to the cause.

To Write Love on Her Arms is a non-profit organization that is designed to help people living in fear and hatred realize that there is help and that these people won’t have to live feeling alone anymore.

 “I have never met a group of more beautifully broken incredible people in my life than I did when I met the people in this organization,” Dorff said.

The mission statement of To Write Love on Her Arms quotes, “You were created to love and be loved.  You were meant to live life in relationship with other people, to know and be known. You need to know that your story is important and that you’re part of a bigger story.  You need to know that your life matters.”

 Dorff took a chance on this organization when she started to realize she couldn’t keep living in the dark and could no longer hurt herself emotionally, and physically. Dorff began feeling a sense of deep depression when she was only in the early stages of elementary school around the age of 10. By age 12, Dorff had begun self harming herself in order to relieve some of the excessive pain she was feeling inside. Every time Dorff started recovery and began working toward a greater lifestyle, a relapse would take place.

 “You have to know going into recovery that relapses are normal and they are a part of the recovery process,” Dorff said, “It’s going to take time and a lot of effort.”

Now that Dorff has become a big contributor to the chapter of To Write Love on Her Arms on campus, a few things have started to change for the college student. Dorff now has many close friendships and bonds that will never be broken just from knowing she wasn’t the only one.

“It was nice to know I wasn’t alone,” Dorff acknowledged.

The organization on the FGCU campus offers many ways to get involved. There are meetings every Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. in Merwin Hall where different topics are discussed and figure out ways to cope. Second, there will be lots of different fundraisers going on around campus including free hugs, open mic night, and the annual 5k. There are also ways to get connected with the organization online via Twitter and Facebook. Below is the links where you can become a part of the action.

Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/towriteloveonherarms

Twitter: https://twitter.com/twloha