#-sp

Hi love,

I’m so sorry that you’ve been struggling with depression and suicidal thoughts lately. You deserve so much better than that.

I’m glad that you didn’t go through with your suicide plan a half a year ago. I’m glad that you’re still here and that you’re still alive!

I want you to know that even though you feel like you’re going to be a failure and you feel like you’re worthless, those things aren’t necessarily true. Same with the thought about not making it to graduation. Mostly likely those thoughts are your depression talking. Please don’t listen to it. That’s what depression and mental illness does: it distorts your perception of reality and yourself and makes you think things that aren’t true. Have you ever tried on someone elses glasses? And everything was all blurry and out of focus? Mental illness is kind of like that. It causes you to not see things clearly.

But when you are feeling better, you will be able to see things clearly again, and you won’t feel like this way any more! You’re probably thinking, “But I won’t ever get out of this depression.” But most likely you will. It’s rare that people are depressed 24/7 for the rest of their lives. Depression is usually episodic, meaning it comes and goes. Sometimes these episodes last months, other times they last years, but they usually come to an end! So that means that you will experience happiness again. I can’t tell you when, but it will happen!

Have you talked to anybody about this, love? Do any of your friends or family know that you are struggling with all of this? Can you talk to any other family or friends about how you’re feeling? Have you seen a professional? The things you are struggling with can be successfully managed with medication, therapy, and support from loved ones. You don’t have to live this way, love. You don’t have to fight this battle on your own. Please reach out for the help you need and deserve!