(a serious breakup — I’ll leave it at that) and I suffered. The hopelessness enveloped me and while I seemed fine and never missed a day at work, I was struggling. I lost 30 lbs, barely ate, got to the point where I tried to kill myself multiple times and would search for ways at

home or my parents place to do it. Our immediate family history was limited with this, so they didn’t really know what do. Some of my closest friends never knew what to do and often said the wrong things. Doctor I visited in NoVA told me to quit my job, move home to Pennsylvania,

and I had failed God and Jesus. I didn’t believe the world had a lot to gain from me. Somehow, God grasped me slowly, brought me to my church @ViennaPres, met with pastors, got new friends, went on anti-depressants (which I’m hoping to wean down soon), gained a real-life angel

in my therapist (whom I still visit once a month) and was tough as nails, but the compassion is unrivaled. People, you CAN be the linchpin that saves people and lights a spark inside them again. LISTENING matters, saying “it’ll be okay” or Satan got to you, or “snap out of it”

are unbelievably toxic phrases. It’s so damaging. If you identified with any of this, you are NEVER, EVER alone. Through medication and therapy, it all really does work. Everyone’s regiment is different, but there IS hope. The National Suicide Hotline is @800273TALK. It’s worth

telling your stories. It’s worth showing that you were able to turn the car around before going off the cliff and drive away. It took me two years to turn my car around and, while I’ve had pitfalls, I’m speeding away. Mental health conditions should NOT be seen as things you can

just stop having. The chemical imbalances are so real. I have a lot to say about this, but these are just a few that I typed up at my desk and gathered the courage to go public. I feel ease discussing this in circles with church, family, and work because we’re all called to

#EndTheStigma. We can do this. Depression doesn’t care what you do, who you love, or where you live. These rising suicide rates and flaunting shows like 13 Reasons Why that mainstream suicide have to stop. END.