The road to recovery can seem like a neverending journey. It begins when a person realizes he or she needs help and is willing to make necessary changes. In the last segment of 'The Fight Within' series, Cara Thomas revisits the story of Abby Thrasher and why she says the hard work is worth it.

UTICA, N.Y. -- Monday isn't normally a day people look forward to, but for Abby Thrasher, it was her favorite day of the week during the summer months.

"It gets me out of the house, which makes me feel better. I like meeting people and talking to them, and it's a lot of fun and it helps me a lot," said Abby.

Opening up a henna tattoo booth at the Whitesboro farmer's market was the perfect way for Abby to show off her talent and passion for art.

"It's something I love to do; I've been doing it on paper for a year now," said Abby. 

But life hasn't always been this way for Abby. For years, she struggled with depression and self-harm and was ultimately diagnosed with bi-polar disorder.

It took time for Abby to find the right facility, the right medicine and discover the right tools to help her overcome daily struggles.

"Whenever I'm feeling manic and in my high mood, I just paint a picture or [go] out on a walk. That helps a lot with my low moods," said Abby.

"When you have this disorder, everything that you can do that's positive is therapy," said Abby's father, Robert Thrasher. "She's got her new Yorkie, a little less than a year-old Yorkie puppy, and that's therapy."

Psychologists say the first step to recovery is having the motivation to do the hard work and not give up.

“Recovery is entirely possible. People can and do get better all the time,” said psychologist Dr. Raymond Bepko.

Recovery is not a cure, though. Abby says she still has her struggles.

"I do have times where I'm, like right now I'm pretty normal, but yeah, when I get in one of those swings, it can get pretty harsh," said Abby.

“It continues, the struggle continues,” said Robert. "We have some minor setbacks once in a while, which you’re going to have, but I think we see the light at the end of the tunnel now, which is nice."

Through her art and her new business venture, Abby said she's found freedom, which makes her journey toward recovery a more exciting and enjoyable experience.

If you or someone you know is struggling with a mental illness or is struggling with difficult life events, ask for help. Psychologists say the key to recovery is finding the right type of treatment for you and getting started as soon as possible. They say your primary care doctor is a great resource for kickstarting your journey to recovery.