Hello!

I've been on 7 Cups for a few weeks now but decided to give my introduction, here goes.

I'm Alisha (uh-leesha), please call me Sharkie. (Sharks are my favorite animals)

I'm a Cis gendered 26 year old woman. Diagnosed with asperger's syndrome at 18 by 2 separate therapists. I also have depression, PTSD and anxiety.

Lost my father at the age of 12 to a heart attack. Lost my mother at 16, she had aggressive cancer, had surgery and chemo, she was cancer free for a year and a half until the cancer returned and attacked her brain. She would die hours after the second surgery, the cancer was so aggressive that the Doctor told us she would have needed constant around the clock care for the rest of her life.

After I would lose my mother I was adopted by an aunt on my mother's side who turned verbally and physically abusive very quickly. This aunt decided she wanted to watch me fail, She would drop custody of me after 6 months where I became a ward of the state for another 3 months, I was then adopted by my cousin at 17 who I have adopted as parental figures and their son as my "brother".

The loss of my mother left me in a state of lucid shock and numbness as well as the abuse leaving more mental damage that I still struggle with to this day. I was not able to properly begin grieving my loss until almost 2 years after she was already gone. Adjusting to my new life in a new town with new family was one of the most challenging things I had ever done at the time.

Today, I have a wonderful fiance and Inlaws who mean the world to me, hopefully I'll marry him soon. Some days the emotions are overbearing, other days I feel like I can do anything. I'm learning what triggers me all the time.