Depression

Depression—I have experienced and battled it for most of my life. I have fought hard, done many things, talked to countless doctors, and prayed many nights to overcome this disease. This book is a written and pictorial look into my journey of moving from darkness to light. The writings in this book are the real thoughts and feelings that lived inside of me during my struggle. With the help of the brilliant photographer David Heitur, I tried to express my inside feelings outward through the lens of his camera. I felt that it was important to tell my story with as much honesty as possible. This was a hard project for me because I had to tap into the depths of despair that I felt when I was drowning in a sea of darkness. It has been a long time since I have felt those feelings, and I pray that I never feel them again. Mental illness is a disease that so many people suffer from. Suicide has become an overwhelming epidemic in this country, and people need to be aware of the importance of getting help. My hope is that my story will touch someone’s heart who is either suffering or knows someone who suffers from mental illness. If you are suffering, please reach out for help. If just one person finds strength and hope from this book, all of my suffering will have been worth it.