Born and raised in the outskirts of Lisbon, my first years as a Catholic, church-going boy, saw the development of a fascination with the Dichotomy of Life and Death.This had a great impact on my view of the world and, inevitably, my fragile and sensitive soul fell in the trap of those unsolvable existential questions and the sleepless nights wondering why there was so much pain, suffering and darkness in the world, when Love seemed so easy to obtain and share. As such, night after night, feeling abandoned and powerless, it seemed to me that there was no place for Love and for Light in a world so deeply surrounded by Darkness.And so the unrelenting, unpaved and merciless path of deep depression.. became my own."Why not dare yourself to become a shinning, positive light where darkness is the only thing known?" - Edmond MbiakaQuickly the pain became too strong and took over everything that made me who I had always been and took away my Light.Appearing happy or even trying to smile was nothing more than a thin veil, a shattering mask that weighted heavily on my heart but was easy to put on everyday so that my deep sadness and thoughts of death were mine and mine only for I felt I had no right to burden those who loved me with my problems. All I wanted was that they would always see me as the shinning light I always had been, sharing words of Love and Hope, always trying to make the world a better place for them and for all.Yet , inside I died a little more every day, plagued by those damned self-doubting, sabotaging voices created and fed by my deep depression. I seemed like (or, at least, I have always tried to seem so) a strong young man on the outside but I was definitely not strong all the way through.And so I just kept on mechanically going, focusing on doing good and trying to ignore the fact that inside I kept on getting worse as time passed by."I can shake everything as I write; my sorrows disappear, my courage is reborn." - Anne FrankAnd then one night, while sitting on my window alone in deep silent conversation with most beautiful and bewitching summer Moon (just like I had done almost every single lonely night!) I felt a deep, overwhelming need to write all the pain and all the hurt that for years I had been carrying in silent penitence.And write I did…For hours and hours, my very soul and existence poured into tear-soaked pages bathed by the moonlight.And just like that, the pain slowly eased and faded away, the voices strangling my soul got quieter and for the first time in a long time I felt relief and.. I genuinely smiled.Since then, I never again stopped writing."Reach minds. Touch hearts. Move souls. Change lives." - Matshona DhliwayoSo today, here I am. A healthier, happier and stronger me starting my journey into philanthropy, still with the same dream of changing the world and making it a better place and most importantly support people beating their sabotaging inner voices and beat depression and anxiety through the beauty of creativity, whichever form it takes.It’s more than time to fight for a better world! A world without depression and all other mental health issues and a world with stronger, happier and healtier people without making taking medication mandatory for us to feel better.Joins us and be a catalyst of change!Azaerius Maelstrom"Bettering yourself is intelligence. Bettering others is virtue. Bettering the world is enlightenment." - Matshona DhliwayoRead more about this authorRead less about this author