I'm sharing my story to affirm with you that Depression is Real. I hope that reading about my long journey working through depression and anxiety will help you or a loved one know that you can get over depression.

Depression is not just in your head. It's not something you can just shake from your head and suddenly be content.

Depression (I wish we could come up with a better name) is a shutdown of your whole system. It's like you are locked in a deep hole and can't escape.

You try climbing out by using antidepressants or going to counselling. You try to dig a hole through the wall by trying holistic approaches.

Sometimes you become so exhausted because of all the ways you are trying to climb out of the hole. Life is passing you by and you are stuck.

You start to feel hopeless. You are tired of being tired, and life does not matter as much.

You don't want to be a burden, so life seems better off without you. I am not a doctor, a counsellor or any professional in the mental health field.

I am a mother, wife, retired teacher (now), friend, sister, and daughter, a participant, fighter and survivor of depression. While this book doesn't promise to heal you from your mental illness, I want to do my best to share what I've learned and hopefully inspire you to keep going.

Don't give up, and don't give up hope, because you will get better. And it's with this hope that I've grown in myself that I share the rest of my experience.

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