Living Through Depression: Julia's Story

NationwideChildrens

7 May 201903:45

Summary

TLDRJulia, diagnosed with major depression and anxiety at 19, shares her journey from feeling hopeless and engaging in self-harm to seeking help and finding remission. She emphasizes the importance of asking for help, validates her feelings, and expresses her newfound passion for social work, aiming to assist children in crisis. Julia's story is a testament to resilience and the possibility of overcoming mental health challenges.

Takeaways

🌟 Julia was diagnosed with major depressive disorder at the age of 19 in 2017.
😔 She experienced anxiety from a young age, manifesting physically as chest tightness, shakiness, and stomach pain.
🌫 Her depression worsened through high school, leading to feelings of worthlessness and a bleak outlook on life.
🏆 Despite her internal struggles, Julia maintained a high-achieving facade, excelling in school and extracurricular activities.
🔪 Julia began self-harming and contemplating suicide as a way to cope with her overwhelming emotions.
🆘 She reached out to her mother for help, admitting she couldn't keep herself safe, which led to a life-changing intervention.
👩‍⚕️ Julia was evaluated by a social worker and for the first time, she was completely open about her mental health struggles.
🏥 She found solace and hope in the hospital, realizing that help was available and that she didn't have to die to find relief.
🎓 Now in remission, Julia is studying social work with a focus on behavioral health, aiming to help children in crisis or inpatient settings.
💪 She advocates for mental health awareness, encouraging others to seek help and not give up on themselves, as depression can and does get better.

Q & A

How old was Julia when she was diagnosed with major depressive disorder?
-Julia was diagnosed with major depressive disorder at the age of 19 in 2017.
What physical symptoms did Julia experience due to her anxiety?
-Julia experienced tightness in her chest, shakiness, and stomach pain as physical symptoms of her anxiety.
How did Julia's mental health affect her perception of life during high school?
-During high school, Julia's mental health made her perceive life as grey and filled with feelings of worthlessness.
What was Julia's outward appearance like despite her internal struggles?
-Despite her internal struggles, Julia appeared to be a straight-A student, socially active with friends, involved in her church youth group, and a regular babysitter.
What coping mechanism did Julia resort to as her mental health deteriorated?
-Julia started self-harming as a way to cope with her deteriorating mental health.
What was the turning point that led Julia to seek professional help?
-The turning point was when Julia told her mom that she didn't think she could keep herself safe, leading her mom to call Children's Hospital hotline.
How did Julia feel after being evaluated by a social worker?
-After being evaluated by a social worker, Julia felt completely broken and validated, with a sense of hope that help could be found.
What was Julia's realization about the nature of depression after her hospitalization?
-Julia realized that depression lies and that it does get better, and that she had to fight to stay alive.
What is Julia's current status regarding her mental health?
-Julia is currently in remission from her depression and is clean from self-harm.
What is Julia's educational and career goal after overcoming her struggles?
-Julia is majoring in social work and aspires to work in behavioral health, specifically with children in crisis or inpatient settings.
What message does Julia have for others who might be struggling with depression?
-Julia encourages others not to give up, to fight against depression's lies, and to hold on because it doesn't have to win and things can get better.

Outlines

00:00

😔 Struggling with Depression and Anxiety

Julia, 19, shares her experience of being diagnosed with major depressive disorder in 2017. She describes her anxiety starting from childhood, manifesting as physical symptoms like chest tightness, shakiness, and stomach pain. Her depression worsened during high school, leading to feelings of worthlessness and self-harm. Despite outward appearances of success, she privately struggled. After a crisis involving suicidal thoughts, she sought help through a hotline and was evaluated by a social worker, marking the beginning of her recovery.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Depression

Depression is a mental health disorder characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and a lack of interest or pleasure in activities. In the video, Julia shares her personal battle with major depressive disorder, which she was diagnosed with at the age of 19. Her experience illustrates the profound impact depression can have on a person's life, causing feelings of worthlessness and a sense of everything being 'grey'.

💡Anxiety

Anxiety refers to a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease about something with an uncertain outcome. Julia has experienced anxiety since childhood, manifesting physically as tightness in her chest, shakiness, and stomach pain. The video emphasizes how anxiety can be a hidden struggle that affects daily life, even when outward appearances suggest otherwise.

💡Self-harm

Self-harm is the act of deliberately causing physical harm to oneself as a coping mechanism for emotional pain. Julia mentions that she began to self-harm as a way to cope with the emotional heaviness of her depression. This keyword is significant as it highlights the extreme measures individuals may resort to when struggling with their mental health.

💡Suicidal Ideation

Suicidal ideation refers to thoughts of engaging in behavior that could lead to one's own death. Julia confesses to having suicidal thoughts, indicating the severity of her mental health crisis. This concept is crucial in understanding the desperation and hopelessness that can accompany severe depression.

💡Remission

Remission is a term used to describe the absence or significant reduction of symptoms in a disease or disorder. Julia shares that she is now in remission from her depression, which signifies a period of recovery and improved mental health. This keyword is hopeful and underscores the possibility of overcoming mental health challenges.

💡Social Work

Social work is a profession focused on helping individuals, families, and communities enhance their well-being. Julia's aspiration to major in social work and work with children in crisis or inpatient settings reflects her desire to give back and help others who may be experiencing similar struggles. This keyword ties into the theme of recovery and the transformative power of support.

💡Advocacy

Advocacy involves supporting or arguing for a particular cause or policy. Julia's passion for advocating stems from her own experiences, as she wants to raise awareness about mental health issues. Advocacy is a central theme in the video, as it represents the act of speaking up for oneself and others to promote understanding and change.

💡Validation

Validation is the process of confirming the truth or existence of something, or making someone feel acknowledged and understood. In the video, Julia feels validated when she is treated 'like a person' by the social worker, which is a turning point in her story. This keyword is important as it illustrates the significance of empathy and recognition in the healing process.

💡Hope

Hope is a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen. Julia's realization that help is available and effective instills hope in her, which is a central theme in the video. Hope is portrayed as a vital component in the fight against depression and a driving force for recovery.

💡Stigma

Stigma refers to a mark of disgrace associated with a particular circumstance, quality, or person. Julia's narrative implies the stigma surrounding mental health issues, as she hid her struggles behind closed doors. Addressing this keyword is essential in the video's message, as it encourages viewers to challenge societal stigma and seek help without shame.

💡Resilience

Resilience is the ability to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness. Julia's story is one of resilience as she overcomes her mental health challenges and emerges stronger. This keyword is integral to the video's narrative, demonstrating that individuals can bounce back from adversity and that strength can be found even in the darkest times.

Highlights

Julia was diagnosed with major depressive disorder at 19 years old.

She experienced anxiety since childhood, manifesting physically with chest tightness, shakiness, and stomach pain.

Julia's depression worsened through middle and high school, leading to feelings of worthlessness.

Despite outward appearances of success, Julia struggled privately with her mental health.

She began self-harming and had suicidal thoughts as a way to cope with her depression.

Julia's mother called a hotline for help after Julia expressed she couldn't keep herself safe.

A social worker's evaluation led to Julia's first honest conversation about her mental health.

Julia didn't want to die but felt death was the only option to escape her feelings.

In a hospital, she found a break from her depression and hope for recovery.

Julia is now in remission from her depression and getting to know herself beyond her mental illnesses.

She is clean from self-harm and is studying social work with a focus on behavioral health.

Julia aspires to work with children in crisis or inpatient settings, advocating for mental health.

She emphasizes that depression lies and one must fight to stay alive.

Julia encourages others to hold on because depression doesn't have to win.

She shares her story to show that recovery is possible and one is stronger than depression.