Sounds like a nice idea. Well I have both, mild depression and severe anxiety because of reasons. I am getting better. I used to be bad, with insomnia for about 1-2 years and that didn't help ahah but I got better, it doesn't just happen in a day though. At this moment it's hard to think back on what I used to feel like, I still have bad days but I treasure the fact that I'm not in a black hole anymore. For me it was like a long long time of just monotone living, nothing mattered but when it did all I felt was that twist inside your gut, but most days were just "empty". I had multiple psychologists but none of them seem to say anything or do anything that made me think differently, I didn't hate myself because I felt detached, I guess. Like a constant dissociation with my brain from my emotions. After a long time of this I started getting better, I'm not certain what triggered it but talking to people and sleeping can save your life. I started feeling less heavy and lethargic, then

I started appreciating people more and relationships with "friends". I talked to myself constantly so I knew how I felt and what I wanted to do about situations, I became friends with myself. So no matter how lonely I ever was, I was always there for me. Eventually "friends" became real friends, I put effort into talking and laughing and smiling. Now I'm not amazing but I am so much better, I feel better and more like a whole person. It's good, that's a victory in my eyes because I'm not going back there, I WANT to be happy and I WANT to grow as a person. I guess I'd say that it took a lot of time and effort convincing myself I was worth happiness so when I eventually got there, I believed myself. I like myself and who I am, not all the time but I always have others and me to help. Thanks for listening haha

What is the plot of the story? Or is it just a collection of stories?

No matter what the plot is you should begin the book by including the definition of these two disorders and what classifies something as a disorder. Now I don't know the exact quote, but I know that it's considered a disorder once it impairs your ability to do the big 3: Work, school, and relationships. You should inclue blips on the science behind these disorders at the beginning of each chapter, like a quote. Just ideas.

Well the main goal is to start off by letting reader know that this is a book that I am going to walk through with them. I suffer from severe depression and anxiety. Im writing the first part before my amputation, during, and after. All the lows ill go through, because i know theyre coming. To then bridge those lows to the everyday paerson. From people who suffer from these no matter the severity. I want to speak to everyone, especially the low of the low. I then want to show how to make it out. How to fight. My motto for the book is "hit them hard, walk them through, then show them a the way out"

Thank you for sharing @parisqueen :)

I want this to be a safe place to vent

I had severe depression three years ago. It had been "triggered" by a relationship that had ended unexpectedly according to the psychiatrist. You must understand that I wasn't depressed over the said relationship, that's just when the depression started. Anyway it got so bad at one point that I would cry myself to sleep every single night for months. I became so insecure that I would stay at home all of the time, even if my family was going out for lunch or a friend said I should come over I refused. I went through this alone. About a year and a half ago I learnt to manage it through music and became more social and happy. After a while I went to a psychiatrist to try to understand what had happened etc. Now I am generally very happy and comfortable around other people but I still get sad sometimes which is when I pull out the music. The whole thing lasted 6 months. I even had suicidal thoughts.

Sorry it lasted 6 years not months. For those of you struggling with depression get yourselves a healthy way to relieve the stress and sadness. When it was too bad I would punch an old pillow or do something exhausting so that I would literally be too tired to care. Remember that suicide doesn't end the pain; it just passes it on to someone else. Also suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. If anyone wants some support or guidance my email is [email protected]. (there are TWO d's in the email address)

@parisqueen I know exactly what you mean when you say it doesn't happen overnight. People who are really struggling NEED to remember this. And psychiatrists didn't help me at all either. Thanks for sharing and a very big, warm, well-done for making it out alive! Keep fighting sister, you're not alone.

@dominic you're absultely right. I thought about suicide quite a few times. The thought kept going through my head, "if im still alive after alk the times i shouli have died, then why am i still here?" . We never know our futures. Maybe we were kept aeound for a reason. Maybe to help others survive ine more day through our craft.

@morebacon would you mind sharing a little about your story?

Not at all. I was born with a birth defect that made my left leg highly deformed. 11 surgeries through my childhood couldnt fix it. I despised my leg to the point of never wearing shorts. So i amputated in 2006. Little did i know that all those feeling i had towards my deformed leg would wash over into being an amputee. Alm the anger, anxiety, depression, they all followed me past my amputation. Only thing is they compounded with the feelings of being a new amputee. Ive spent that last decade battling in my mind. Medication helps, but these roots go deep.

Wow that's a long time. Please let me know when the book is out as I would like to read it.

Okay, so the story is sort of an autobiography? You should make different comparisons between depression and amputation before the readers knows you are an amputee. Then have the amputation be almost like a surprise. This way the reader Is startled and interested, but can look back in the book and see the foreshadowing to this event. (Not trying to be insensitive, just saying this would make a good story)

Thanks @dominic, I hope you're improving yourself and I'm more then happy to chat if you ever need it :)
Good luck with your book @morebacon! I think it will turn out great and I will definitely read it. Love you all xx

Back at ya @parisqeen :) njust these fee tips have helped. Keep the stories coming and know this is a chat to vent and get support for those who really need it. I wish i had this a long time ago.

I was in a dark place after losing my brother.
I just felt empty for good few years.
I didn't want help, so I ended up curving therapists and support groups my parents wanted me to talk to.
I was in my own world and I wanted a way out.
I knew this was bad, so I dedicated myself to a goal. Nothing impossible, or even unrealistic. I am going to help good people, and fight bad ones.
I will die in my bed surrounded by a lifetime's worth of friends and family, or in battle secure in the knowledge that my sacrifice is for a greater cause.
Any time I catch myself slipping back, I remember that the easy way out is the coward's way out, and my parents didn't raise a coward.
Some days are worse than others, but I have a mission.
Sorry if this isn't relevant, I just needed to get that off my chest.

Dont be sorry. Everyone's story us different and the levels are endless. Thats what facinates me about our minds. Im sorry you had to go through that. I dont know what I would do if i lost my sister.

Thanks for sharing @famousone. I think we all need goals or things to be focused on if we're to avoid slipping back. Never really thought about that before...