Nearly 10 years ago, Jamie Tworkowski wrote a story entitled “To Write Love On Her Arms” with no intention other than sharing a friend’s journey and hoping it resonated with others who were struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicidal thoughts. Since then, the Floridian has used his writing (a lot on his Myspace blog!) to promote a safe haven and open a discussion for those in need of help, founding the TWLOHA organization as a vessel of encouragement and hope.

In March the non-profit released To Write Love On Her Arms, a film depicting the story that started the movement, and last month Tworkowski published his first collection of essays, IF YOU FEEL TOO MUCH: Thoughts On Things Found And Lost And Hoped For. Currently on a book tour, Tworkowski spoke with us from a hotel room in Seattle about the collection, the organization and his personal struggle with depression.

I know the book tour just started, but have you had any one come to you with their own personal stories?

The challenge of the book tour—especially when it’s well-attended—is how brief every moment is...but I think the best thing we ever get to hear is people saying “This saved my life,” “This organization saved my life,” “Something you wrote changed my life.” It varies in terms of how much time you get to unpack that, but I feel like I’ve heard that a couple times in line and that’s just amazing and never gets old and reminds you what’s at stake.

The book, like the organization, is meant to inspire hope and encourage honesty but do you ever find it difficult to share your own personal stories?

Yeah, I kind of have realized this book is very much me handing someone my heart. It’s 200 pages of my heart. People had all sorts of theories and ideas about what sort of book I should write, and I think the finished product is evidence that this relates to my own story and my own journey—not that I’m the only character, or even the main character, in those stories but I’m describing things from my life. Some of it, I realize, I think it was easier for me to be super honest or vulnerable a few years back, so the book kind of gave me a chance to take a journey back through the last 10 years and get back to some of those thoughts and feelings. I really felt like I had to get all of this out there to be able to move forward and write whatever else I’m going to write. As much as it’s a bit scary to be vulnerable, I think that’s the kind of stuff people have most responded to both with me and the organization. I feel like it’s one of the only things I’m really good at in this life, and I feel like it’s the only way I know how to write.

You mentioned it was easier for you a few years ago. Why is that?

I think some of it is when you struggle—and I’m a person who struggles with depression—you don’t want to sound like a broken record and you don’t want to be a burden to people and you don’t want to keep saying the same thing, year after year. So some of it was feeling like I continue to struggle with the same feelings that I did years ago. That was a big part of it. Also, as my responsibilities and platform have grown, I don’t want to write something and get 100 comments from people who are worried about me. I don’t want it to be about pity or anything like that. But the flipside is I want to communicate and I want to write and what I do see come from that is people relating and people feeling less alone. In the end, I have to remember that it’s worth it. And even in the first few days of having the book out, it’s really been encouraging because I’ve read some amazing things about people being touched by the words, so it definitely feels worth it.

Did you ever think the organization would get where it is today when you started it?

No, because I didn’t even start it intentionally. It was just an attempt to help a friend and to tell a story, so the whole thing has been such a series of surprises and so many amazing open doors and incredible dots that somehow connect. I’m really proud and am part of a team that’s much bigger than me, and even overall we consider ourselves a part of something that’s much bigger than us. I’m certainly proud and am aware of the responsibility, but I don’t think I could have ever even imagined what it could be. When I left Hurley in 2006, people were really concerned and asking if that was a good decision. Could this thing last six months? Could it be a job for one person? So I’m really proud of what we’ve been able to build and to get to a place that’s sustainable.

If You Feel Too Much By Jamie Tworkowski, 208 pp. Tarcher. $16.95. Tworkowski is on his book tour now through June 10. Visit TWLOHA.com for more info.