BJJ legitimately saved my life during a similar situation. I was down and completely alone, only time I’ve been self harming in my life and lost 30 lbs over a month. I was thrown this exact lifeline by a friend with a school and there are not enough words for what it did for me. It got me eating better so I’d feel better on the mat, gave me a community (I only rolled sundays so it was a small tight group at a small school), and most importantly, it really opened up the creative parts of my brain that had been mostly closed since I stopped playing music around the end of high school. BJJ brought me passion and the will to live, and the passion absolutely did not just stick to jiujitsu. It was the best therapy I ever had.

Sadly, I had to get spinal fusion for an unrelated work injury and haven’t been back since 2015. But if someone is offering their mat like this, it’s always worth TRYING. You’ll be beat and wiped out at first but if it clicks for you, you just found something that will be with you forever 🖤