Hi. I'm currently writing a common app college essay on a change I'd like to make in the world, and I am having some word choice dilemmas.

I am writing about my past struggles with mental illness, and how I would like to solve this widespread problem. As much as I'd like to put more detail into this post, I really don't have the time, so I'll get right to the point.

Here are the ideas that I can't quite find the right word for, bolded texts are the ones I need a word/term for:

'I began taking ADHD medicine' What is a more official medical way for saying this? (verb)

'Supporting others through their hardships taught me the impact of my actions and how good it feels to help others.' What is another word for 'taught me,' that connotes great discovery, revelations and becoming aware of? I'm thinking something along the lines of enlightened, shed light on etc. (verb)

'I will combine my interests and passions to help others fight their mental illness.' I'd like to portray the idea of greatly helping other people deal with a very hard task, uphill battle, particularly one that is personal/relevant to me. I need a verb for helping others win their battle. (verb)

'First, I mildly experienced mental illness for one year. Then, certain events in my life were creating a lot of stress for me, and this set off/began the main duration (5 years/most of the time) and most severe part of my mental illness.' What is a verb for when something bad that has already started goes from bad to worse, going from the beginning stage to the main duration/most severe part?

'First, I mildly experienced mental illness for one year. Then, certain events in my life were creating a lot of stress for me, and this set off/began the main duration (5 years/most of the time) most severe part of my mental illness.' I need a noun for the main/central part, the longest and most severe part.

'As I grew older, I thought I found the medicine that would solve my problems, but instead it caused more problems.' I need a noun for that medicine (possibly combined with an adjective, ex: miracle cure) and a verb (if needed) describing what I thought/hoped the medicine would do for me (I thought it would treat my problems)

'I noticed my grandma with Alzheimers was forgetting my name, this began my awareness for mental illness.' I need a verb (past tense) for when I became aware of mental illness.

FOR EVERY TIME I REFER TO MENTAL ILLNESS (I can't keep on saying "mental illness" over and over every time I mention it) I need nouns, verbs and adjectives for mental illness and the fight that a victim needs to fight agaisnt it (ex: struggle, hardship, battle, problem etc)

LASTLY, WORDS FOR THE RESULTED OF SOMETHING For all the causes and effects, again I need verbs, adjectives and nouns (ex: lead to, induced, caused, resulted in, the result of etc)

THANKS SO MUCH