During her early childhood, Nicky experienced sexual abuse and with it brought deep issues of anger and shame. At age 10, she began to develop an eating disorder and by the age of 13, she started to self-harm. Nicky excelled at gymnastics and cheerleading, but when she was not at cheer practice, she struggled with alcohol and drug abuse to numb her pain. In high school she was diagnosed as bipolar, and by age 15 she began having suicidal thoughts. After being raped in high school, she began cycling through hospital visits, residential treatment centers, psychiatric units and group homes. By the age of 21, things were completely out of control and she was hopeless. She was addicted to drugs, prostituting herself, stealing from her family, and had been arrested for shoplifting, and attempted suicide multiple times. After a final suicide attempt, she heard about Mercy and applied.
At Mercy, Nicky had hope for the first time, and she still carries that hope with her to this day. She was able to learn principles that set her up for success in life. Now Nicky shares her story with others, encouraging those who deal with the same struggles that she once did.
