Photo taken by contributor Captivating Bitter, a woman in her thirties who has struggled with anxiety and depression for most of her life. She has survived emotional abuse, sexual abuse and rape. She has survived suicide attempts and years of self-harm. After wandering her way through life unable to trust and barely feeling alive, she is now fighting to live a healthy life. She has been reading, journaling, blogging and working hard to heal. She is finally taking care of herself and starting to feel better.

About this photo: “I marvel at the miracle of metamorphosis… It is amazing to me to watch the transformation from tadpole to frog, from caterpillar to butterfly… I find some hope in their changing nature.  On those days when it’s difficult to breathe and my heart beats too fast, too hard – it is essential that I stop and allow myself the luxury of reveling in the little beauties all around me.  It somehow allows my lungs to fill up with air again, my heart to calm…”

Find more from Captivating Bitter at her blog.

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