Abbie was raised in South Carolina. She and her two sisters grew up attending church at The Salvation Army.  

Even as a young girl, people described Abbie as a “worrier.” At the start of middle school, she was dealing with full-blown anxiety. “I would get sick to my stomach and throw up before school. My mom had to make sure I had a little bag with me in the car every morning.” 

Abbie spent much of her formative years learning to cope with anxiety and depression. A naturally empathetic person, Abbie would find herself often taking on the emotional burdens of others, sometimes drowning in other people’s pain. “I became an extreme people pleaser,” she says, noting if she could make others happy, she wouldn’t need to carry their sadness.

Abbie experienced seasons of dread, overwhelmed with thoughts that something bad would happen to her or her family. There were times when she was terrified to be alone, and other times when she couldn’t bring herself to be around her friends.  

“I didn’t recognize it as a mental health issue then. I just thought I was a nervous and emotional person.”

At 12 years old, while at a Salvation Army Youth Councils event, Abbie dedicated her life to Jesus. She became even more involved at the corps (church), helping out whenever she could. She started attending camp, and later, working at camp. She participated in divisional events as well as art and theater ministry. 

Yet, even as she was learning who she was in Christ, the anxiety remained.  Sometimes Abbie would wonder: “Why doesn’t Jesus fix me?”

“I didn’t understand why I was anxious. I grew up in a loving family. I didn’t have childhood trauma. I grew up in church. I would pray it would go away.”

Though Abbie has overcome many of the issues that plagued her early years, anxiety still plays a part of her life. She believes it is important for young people navigating similar struggles to understand that dealing with a mental illness does not make you spiritually broken. 

“It’s important to face what you’re feeling. You can cast your cares on Jesus, but you can still get medical intervention or therapy. You’re not less of a Christian if you need help.”

Abbie serves as the Special Events and Young Adult Outreach Coordinator for North and South Carolina.  She uses her gifts in theater, art, photography and graphic design on a local, divisional and territorial level for The Salvation Army.  She is engaged to be married in November.