OKAY SO.
To start off, I was a mute for about 11-12 years of my life. Yes, I still kinda consider myself one... it just kinda sticks with you. So the mutism I have is called selective mutism (or SM) and basically it's this extreme anxiety disorder that gives me so much anxiety to the point where can't talk. It's different in every kid's case because the muteness only takes over in certain situations. In my case, I didn't speak to adults. For like twelve years I didn't speak to any adults except my parents and a handfull of grandparents, aunts, and uncles. But that was it. How did you survive school? You may ask... Well luckily I was smart, so I stayed in normal classes, I just didn't talk to the teachers. And it actually kinda sucked because there were some teachers that would, in a way, bully me? Like they'd say "Oh you can't have this until you talk" And that always tore me up, because no matter how much will power I built up, I just couldn't do it.

But yeah, I was in therapy in kindergarten and 1st grade I think? My parents had me on all sorts of medication, but nothing could crack me. But finally in the 6th grade, even I was absolutely fed up with it, and I was finally able to push through that anxiety and I talked to my first teacher. It was crazy! But the overwhelmingly high anxiety wasn't gone. Sure I was now talking to adults, but I was still the most awkward, shy, introverted kid on this planet. It was a bit hard to make friends because of it. There was just too much anxiety for me to talk to new people. I started getting depressed, not just because of that, but it was definitely one of the factors. But that was also the year I started really exploring YouTube... and I found this funny dude by the username Tobuscus. He was goofy, didn't really care what people thought of him, and just the biggest optimist. I started getting into watching him. By 7th grade, I was obsessed.
But it turned out to be for the best.

woah those teachers are mean X<

ooh i think i have seen him??

See, Toby radiates confidence, which is just what I needed. He really really helped me to get through my SM and really helped with my confidence. I became more confident about myself, started making more friends, really came out of my shell. My depression was pretty bad then too, but Toby is the biggest optimist... And that has helped me beyond belief. Without him, I'd surely be purely pessimistic. He showed me a new way of thinking which helped me push through depression. And after that, all I wanted to do was meet him and tell him thanks for everything. I did my best to save money for an event called Playlist Live. After two years of being denied going, I was finally able to go earlier this year, which is a whole new story >v< I'll tag you here if you want to read about that experience --> #meetingToby1 My depression basically dissapeared after that, it was quite amazing, and I finally felt satisfied with myself and I could finally be happy without his help.

Toby interacted with me a bit after that like with this ---> #meetingToby2 and yeah. Then school started again and my depression was back and as strong as ever. But then I heard Toby was coming to a con like 30 mins from where I live and I became absolutely overhyped and I met him again ---> #meetingToby3
and now I'm finally able to talk to my absolute hero whenever I feel... Amazing turnout xD
But yeah, without him, who knows if I would have gotten past that main stage of SM? I mean... Idek if I'd even be here today without him... So much thanks Toby...
Your video content may be a bit questionable these days, but you are one of the nicest, kindest people I've ever had the pleasure of knowing.

That is amazing. You have been through so much but you puulled through by just the videos of Toby. I look up to you and Toby and hope to wwork on my problems. Thank u

Oh holy crud, wow.

Man...
You have a really great story, you know that?
You're a really amazing person, like wow, I don't really know what to say. ;n;

You're really an inspiration.

omg... scowly! Tell Toby thank you from me. B/c if you weren't here i'd cry T-T