Personal Narrative: Clinical Depression

Throughout the past few years of my life, I've suffered from clinical depression. Freshman year, my formerly happy personality faded and was replaced with a bitter, sad one. I was so scared; I didn't understand why I was hurting so much or that it wasn't my fault. However, I felt that reaching out for help would be even scarier than facing what was going on in my mind. I felt my thoughts were so awful and different from everyone else’s that anyone I told would just look at me in disgust, reiterating what a terrible person I was. My self enforced isolation left me drowning in loneliness. I could barely get out of bed in the morning, let alone talk to people at school. Thankfully, a friend of mine reached out to me and noticed what I was …show more content…
What did I do that was so horrible that I deserve to go through this, I wondered. I no longer believe my personal struggle with depression was pointless; I know it has helped me learn things I never would have otherwise. For one, through this arduous experience I discovered that I want to use my life to help others going through afflictions with their mental health. I know from personal experience how difficult it is for one to admit what’s going on inside his or her mind, yet how vital to work towards health. I have developed a passion for alleviating mental suffering, and by pursuing an education in nursing, I hope to become a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner so that I can dedicate my life to serving others who struggle similarly to how I did. Through my experience, I believe I learned something more than what I want to do with my life. I also learned that suffering does not have to be senseless. My struggle with depression has made me more empathetic, not only to those going through depression, but to those who could be going through something I cannot see or understand. Fighting depression taught me not to judge people by how their life looks on the outside, but to give each person love and respect, for they are likely struggling with something. Depression is invisible, as are many burdens, and I learned I do not have to see them or understand them to care for the person fighting