Illustration via pinterest

I have been having trouble focusing, I’ve lacked motivation, and I have had the hardest time talking to people or just being around them. Most would say that I’m being lazy, but I have been through this enough times to know that it’s depression. Yes, I actually suffer from depression and anxiety.

Mental health is not something commonly talked about in our community. Especially when it comes to issues like anxiety and depression. As someone who has dealt with clinical depression for years, anytime I’ve tried to speak on my issues I get met with, “You’re just going through a rough time”, “Get over it/Woman up””, and my absolute favorite, “Take it to God”. Of course the advice may help temporarily, but the issues always tend to come back. This is because mental health issues are like any other illness, and remedies aren’t cures. Now this is not a post bashing religion, or even the people who believe they are just trying to help. No, this post is for anyone who may be going through emotional roller coasters and can’t figure out what causes them to be sad when they have no actual reason to be. This is a post for those who can’t understand why they get so uncomfortable around people and they barely leave their room. This is also for those going through something very dark, and I’m hoping this will bring you some light. I have been there and I think sharing this could really help some. *Please keep in mind that I am NOT a doctor, therapist, or any type of medical expert. All views in this post is based purely on my opinion unless otherwise stated.*

Meme via Tumbler

What is anxiety and depression?

“Anxiety is an emotion characterized by feelings of tension, worried thoughts and physical changes like increased blood pressure. People with anxiety disorders usually have recurring intrusive thoughts or concerns. They may avoid certain situations out of worry.”

–American Psychological Association

Anxiety is actually very common for people our age and younger, as our generation tends to be less socially active than previous ones (thanks to social media). It can be brought on by stress, lack of confidence, or simply because you’re an introverted person.

“Depression is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. Also called major depressive disorder or clinical depression, it affects how you feel, think and behave and can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems. You may have trouble doing normal day-to-day activities, and sometimes you may feel as if life isn’t worth living.”

–Mayo Clinic

There are many types of depression. Some are mild, like simply being sad. Others are more severe, and can lead to things like eating disorders, self-harm, and even suicide.

I have dealt with depression for years. I use to get very bad anxiety attacks that led to deep a depression. Like anxiety, many things can trigger depression. My depression is usually triggered by my anxiety.
Sometimes my sadness and worry would get so bad that I would think about ending my life.I will be honest with you, a few times I have attempted it. I’m so thankful that I never succeeded. I believe as I get older and learn myself more, it has become easier to prevent it from getting that bad. The illness will probably never go away, but there are ways to remove the symptoms. Look out for part 2.

“Tiara Letrice is a Staff Writer at #mygirlsquad. She enjoys hot cups of tea, modern ballet, and Quentin Tarantino

Written by Tiara Letrice, Staff Writer, #mygirlsquad