Share Your Story 5

TRIGGER WARNING: This story contains content about anxiety and depression.

I've always been an anxious person. I was extremely shy when I was younger and to this day even have a fear of drawing attention to myself. Upon a neuropsychological analysis in 9th grade, I was diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder and a Moderate to Severe Depressive disorder. 2019 was quite honestly one of the worst years of my life -- my serotonin levels plummeted to an extent that it was physically and mentally exhausting to get out of bed in the morning. I would sleep for 12+ hours a day until I began seeing a psychiatrist, who was able to affirm my diagnoses and prescribe me an anti-depressant and anxiety reducer. I also began seeing a therapist weekly to discuss my feelings about my day-to-day life, something I still do in times of Covid with tele-doc appointments. I have been taking the medication every day for a year and a half now and I can honestly say it has made all the difference in my mental state. Please, please do not feel like you are "weak" for relying on anti-depressants to uplift you each day -- they help millions of people who would be in far worse situations without them. Covid has definitely plummeted my mental health even as of right now; however, I know deep down that it would be far worse if I was not receiving the help I need. Please reach out to those in your community if you are in any way feeling the way I was -- there IS help for you out there, don't suffer in silence!