I choose health by Lindsey Leigh 

As an adult entertainer in the public eye, it’s a sad and disturbing fact that online bullying and harassment is basically part of the job. With social media making it easier than ever to attack and berate people with a few anonymous words and a quick screen tap, it’s become harder than ever to want to engage on such platforms… and not enough, in my opinion, is being done to stop it. 

I am bullied quite often and it has, understandably, messed with my mental health. While you obviously need a thick skin in this business to deal with the sometimes ‘unfavorable’ aspects of the job, no one, for any reason should be harassed, degraded, or threatened.

At first, it was jarring to realize how hateful people can be towards a complete stranger. I ignored, blocked, and brushed off the negative outside influences… but over time the remarks began to infiltrate my psyche. I started to genuinely believe the haters who told me I was talentless and disgusting. 

The internal struggle was a lot to handle: I became depressed, started using drugs, and developed a multiple personality disorder -an extreme level of disassociation that shielded me from the cruelty of humanity I faced every day. 

Then, two years ago, after two suicide attempts and constant gnawing of deep depression, I made the decision to begin mental health journey to happiness. I got on medication, which allowed me to develop coping techniques and deal with the day-to-day negativity, and I started reading more about mental, physical and emotional health in an effort to discover what worked for me. 

After a year of studying my brain to figure out what was wrong and learning how to live with my emotions and very-normal reactions, my decision-making became easier. The prescriptions helped negativity roll off me as opposed to affecting me because my brain literally could not go sad/mad/distressed. 

I also deleted Twitter from my phone: Twitter is what I consider ‘the Negativity Zone’; I find much more positivity on Instagram and Facebook. But I realize that promoting your work on Twitter is beneficial to your career as well, so in the spirit of compromise, I only post once a week, don’t read notifications, and post-date my Tweets. 

Also important: focusing on the people that support you. I focus on the fans that make my job so amazing and worthwhile and make you feel good about who you are and what you do. I also read a female empowerment quote every day, which helps me forgive other models and actresses who have bullied means well.

You must rise above and always keep up with your mental health-I will never take self-care, therapy, or the ability to ask for help when I need it for granted ever again, and I urge other models and performers to seek out the objective, unconditional support the minute they feel they need it.