From Darkness to Determination: Randi-Lee Bowslaugh’s Journey Toward Healing
Randi-Lee Bowslaugh’s journey with depression began when she was just 13 years old. What started as quiet sadness soon grew into a long and unpredictable battle filled with ups and downs. “Throughout the years, I had many ups and downs and considered suicide on more than one occasion,” she recalls.
In her thirties, Randi-Lee received another diagnosis, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The root causes ran deep, shaped by years of instability, including an alcoholic stepfather and the tragic loss of her brother to a drug overdose. “Feeling unloved, like I didn’t matter,” she says, describing the weight of those years. “I tried to please people to get affection to fill a hole.”
Finding Ways to Cope
During her teenage years, writing became her refuge. “As a teenager, I wrote poems,” she says, recalling how words helped her make sense of emotions that felt too heavy to speak aloud. As an adult, she sought help through therapy and began taking antidepressants, steps that allowed her to slowly rebuild her sense of self.
“Therapy helps me return to a place of being,” Randi-Lee explains. “Not always too happy, but out of the pit enough to let me move forward to find happiness again.”
Small Steps Toward Healing
Through the years, Randi-Lee has learned that healing doesn’t come from one big moment but through small, intentional acts of self-care. Exercise, spending time in nature, and being around animals help her reconnect with herself and the world around her. Writing continues to be one of her most powerful tools for release and reflection.
She has also learned to be patient with the process to recognize that “better” doesn’t always mean “perfect,” but rather a steady climb out of the darkness.
A Message of Hope
To anyone struggling with depression or trauma, Randi-Lee offers a message that comes from lived experience: “You are not alone. Even though you might feel that way. Our brains like to trick us into thinking untrue and horrific thoughts. The first step is to acknowledge that you may need to reach out.”
Her journey is proof that healing is possible, that even when the mind tells us we are unworthy, there is always a way forward.
Continuing the Story
Today, Randi-Lee continues to share her story through her writing and advocacy, helping others know they don’t have to suffer in silence. Her openness and honesty remind us that vulnerability is not weakness, it’s courage in its purest form.
Learn more about Randi-Lee’s work and writing at www.rbwriting.ca.
