LARRY BRYANT
What has aided your survival, and how difficult is it to overcome stigma?
Emotional support and stability are hugely important to my well-being and day-to-day sanity. It is not always easy to stay afloat, and I have even fallen under more than a few times. Trust and acceptance from my family and closest friends have been invaluable over the years. In many cases, they defined my survival when I couldn’t. As for stigma, the stigma that I impose on myself is more damaging and damning than that perceived or received from others. I have self-destructed in the face of some of my best and closest friendships and relationships because of my own fear, instability and insecurity. Every day I seek to find a balance and security within myself before diving into my day and life.
