Erica's Editing Room

Have you ever been caught in a wave while swimming in the ocean, pulled under, and carried toward the shore? That feeling when the wave holds you down, and you have no choice but to wait for it to release you? That's what depression feels like to me. Like the ocean, it crashes over you, overpowering both body and mind. And just like the ocean, depression can be an unrelenting force. The Weight of It All Depression isn't just sadness. It comes with so many layers of emotions and physical sensations—pressure on your chest, a numbness that makes everything feel distant, exhaustion, isolation, hopelessness, and a deep loss of motivation. It’s not easy to explain, so I often just call it "sad." But it’s more complicated than that, much more intense. I’m the type of person who feels everything deeply, maybe too deeply. Some might call it "sensitive," but honestly, I believe things affect me more than they do most people. I also suspect that a part of this struggle...

I feel like my dreams have been shattered. Like I have no purpose anymore. The thing I wanted to do so badly—to be a school counselor—has been put on hold. Maybe it’s over for now. One of the hardest lessons I’ve had to learn is just how quickly life can unravel. You think you’ve got it all figured out—set your goals, make your plans, and convince yourself you know exactly where you’re headed—only to watch everything change in an instant, leaving you back at square one, questioning everything. That’s where I am now, trying to piece it all together. I thought I had my future mapped out, especially when I started grad school. My goal was clear and simple: graduate and be a school counselor by 30. That was the dream, the vision I worked toward every single day. I still remember my last year of grad school like it was yesterday. Thanks to an internship at the school that hired me, I was already working in the field. It felt like everything was falling into place. I couldn’t believe my luck...

I’ve always struggled with depression and anxiety, but this year has been the hardest I’ve ever faced. I’ve encountered some of the toughest days of my life, to the point where simply living stopped feeling like my priority. Admitting this isn’t easy, but there have been times when the thought of ending it all crossed my mind. And, at my lowest, I came dangerously close to acting on those feelings. The truth is, life can be unbearably difficult, and sometimes we’re asked to carry more than we can bear As I’ve gotten older, I’ve become more aware of just how much my mental health has deteriorated. I always knew I had "issues," but I convinced myself they weren’t that serious. I wasn’t stuck in bed all day, I didn’t have constant breakdowns, and I could still manage basic tasks like showering, so I assumed everything was fine. But eventually, it wasn’t. I hit a point where I couldn’t even feed myself. I struggled to get out of bed in the mornings, and even the simplest self-car...