Names have been changed to protect the privacy of the people sharing their stories. The numbers at the end of the stories and quotes are the peoples ages just to show you that teens do go through depression and anxiety also. Thank you to the people who volunteered to share their story.
Depression & Anxiety
Stories and Quotes
- "Depression kinda takes over your life" -14
- "I started question life around between 5-6th grade I started to ask myself why I was here, why was I born, why did people pick on me, and I started to explain the way I feel by saying "I feel like a ragged doll with a target on my back." I was verbally abused by two members of my family. Their not bad people I just always asked myself "what did I do to be treated like this?" Then In middle school I started to hate life, I felt worthless, alone, targeted, hated myself, I always thought there was something wrong with me and how that was the reason for the way I was treated. High school came (8th grade) thought I could start fresh, but then I started having flashbacks of my past of what I have did/done. My depression got worse I started having suicidal thoughts, then in 9th grade I started to self harm, it continued till 11th grade (now) (I quite self harming back in October b/c I made a promise to my counselor) I had maybe several mental breakdowns in the past maybe 2-3 years then I had a mental/emotionally break down in the middle of the first semester of 11th grade I was told that I should go to the hospital due to the suicidal thoughts I was having and how I was close to committing suicide. I had been doing much better sense then and seeing my doctor, and my counselor sense then. I still sometimes have suicidal thoughts or feeling of alone, worthless, hated, but I try my best everyday to remind my self that I may feel alone that it's better to be alone than be surrounded by people who lie and be fake towards me. Plus I try to have a mind set of a hippie (b/c they have such a clear mind set their just peace and love and etc. I don't know why I just really like the way they are an their mind set:)" -16
- "I've had an anxiety attack and it was not a good feeling. Very horrible and dreaded feeling. I hope no one gets to feel that." -18
- "I lived with an abusive mother when I was about two or three, but my dad was constantly fighting for custody. The courts wouldn't give him full custody, so I was required to see her, most of the time without supervision. She was a big drug addict and alcoholic, who often verbally abused me and told me lies about my dad, saying he said he doesn't love me and stuff like that. I kept visiting her until I was about 13 (I'm 15 now) and started to get therapy after a few months of self harming. I suffer from depression and social anxiety due to my traumatic childhood, but it's gotten better over the past few months. Last summer I went to **Help Center** because I was suicidal and self harming. My mom would attempt suicide at least twice per year, and she told my grandfather it was because of me. I have the choice to see my mom or not, and I choose not no. I've been over 6 months clear of self harming, and I'm finally getting over my issues." -15
- "I was in the 6th grade and my dad had signed off his rights for me. it seemed to me like he didn't want anything to do with me, I was a daddy's girl when I was little and when he made that decision it left me in tears. I felt like he only wanted to be a father figure for his step kids, I became depressed and I started hurting myself, I did things to myself that left me with scars on my wrist and my thighs, I went to counseling and throughout that period of time I didn't care about anything, I didn't care about life, I didn't care what people thought, I disrespected my mother and my stepfather. I did things I shouldn't have done. I was depressed until 8th grade, I attended **School** and I felt like the girls there just wanted drama so I decided to transfer to **School** in **City** and throughout my life I feel like that was one of the best decisions I have made. there was a teacher there in specific that had helped me out the most, my first day we clicked . she had made time in her schedule to hear the girls in 8th grade during lunch, all the girls opened up whether it was having to do with boys, fathers, racism and many other things . that helped me out the most, I finally felt comfortable with her and she gave me so many exercises that helped me out. projects, writings, and activities. now as a freshman I look back and I can say I became a stronger girl, my dad left me but I have so many family members that care about me" -15
- "I started having anxiety attacks when I moved to New Jersey. It slowly started getting worse over the course of time I was there. Some bad stuff happened and we had to leave. I was first beginning my depression journey at this time. We came back to Michigan and the anxiety was getting bad and the depression too. I started self harming. The anxiety kept building and building. Then about a month ago I had the worst anxiety attack in my life. I was taken to the hospital for a psych evaluation and they released me and recommended me to a treatment center called **Center**. That really helped me. It was really cool to meet people who where going through the same thing. I learned some valuable coping mechanisms. Now I see a therapist twice a month and I like it." -15
- "As I grew up, I was raised with my 2 siblings, And 7 other kids. My parents were the type of parents to leave every weekend out to party and leave us with a babysitter. I wasn't the oldest kid but I was the oldest Girl, which in a Mexican household means a lot. I was pushed the hardest, yelled at the most, the one who got blamed and had to take responsibility. As I grew up I ended up getting along with many people. In middle school I switched from **School** to **School**, the last month of my 6th grade year which really got to me. None of the girls liked me since I've always gotten along with guys. 7th grade year started, and I got along with most people. 8th grade year came along, and I was okay the first month. Then of course there was one girl who didn't like me and got everybody else to turn on me. At the time, many of those kids called me names, spread rumors, laughed at me, and teased me. I was left with 3 true friends at the time. This was just the beginning of me getting bullied. I went into worse depression. I didn't like going to school, I slept almost my whole evening after school, I cried myself to sleep, and I didn't really like to eat much either. In order for me to go to school I had to do work in my principals office or another classroom where I was alone. I did this for about 4 months of the school year. Finally, the point came where I almost committed suicide. At that point I had a friend who had called me right as I was about to be done, and she reminded me of my worth. Every Friday we had a thing called Moral Focus, which was one word we, as a school, focused on to do. In April, the word was courage. Well I took the courage to stand in front of my middle school and let them all know what was going on. At that moment I was happy, those students who hurt me were the students crying. Afterwards each of those kids came up to apologize. The last month of school I started to enjoy. As I was enjoying it the school year came to an end. I then switched schools again to **School**, and at the same time my dad went to Mexico. I didn't fit in with the kids much and at this school the guys picked on me. I didn't feel comfortable in this school. I went my freshman year completely alone, and half of my sophomore year with 2 friends. My mom could tell I still wasn't happy, so she moved me back to **School**. I was okay for a while, not happy but okay. I then got into a bad relationship. And by bad I mean, arguing almost every night, he called me so many things, he cheated, lied and told me how worthless I was. I was with him for 8 months, and the last 5 months my self esteem dropped. I was always so sad or mad. I wasn't sure how to control it. At the end of my relationship, I took a few months to work on me and continuing going to church. I truly started to become happy slowly at a time. It has now been about 9 months since my break-up, and since I started working on myself. I now go to youth group Wednesday nights, help with the nursery in church on Sundays and get good grades in school. I went a good 3 years being in depression not wanting help from anybody, when in all reality the thing I needed most was help. I still struggle today with it at points, but I have very few, but very close friends, family, my boyfriend, and his family who encourage me daily and push me forward to be the best I can." -17
- "I was diagnosed with an anxiety disorder fall of this year & got put on medication. I couldn't even get through a day without having a stomach ache or anything that my anxiety triggered. It honestly still effects my every day life. Anxiety attacks still occur in usually the heat of terrible times, but I know I'm not alone & that's a reassuring feeling." -16
- "I've gone through depression and I didn't even know. It's crazy how everyone else could tell but I paid it no mind, until I was sat down and asked if I ever had depression it was then when I realized I've changed. I didn't know what was wrong with me I felt nothing, no emotions, no feelings . Everything I enjoyed became irrelevant all I wanted was to be alone and to sleep. I would think of every little thing in my life that would bring me to this and then I would bawl my eyes out some days were worse than others but when it was great it didn't last very long . I mean I didn't try being depressing I would try to talk to others but me being me I didn't know how to express it and I usually end up being cut off because I didn't know how to bring it up or because others had something better to talk about, I won't lie it hurts it really does. I'd say I'm doing better now but that's only because I try to ignore it, right now my life is going nowhere so trying to keep a positive outlook is incredibly hard but all you really have is yourself and in the end no one cares until you do. So for now I'll continue to grin and act like everything is fine until it really becomes great and I'll actually be smiling." -18
- "You can't do the most easiest task in the world with a urging pain saying "what If, They're watching you..." Everything goes dark for me, I tremble and shake. the world feels a little darker to me. I can't stop thinking about people watching me and what they'll think. It's all in my head.. I can't get it out. My breathing fastens. It's a never ending cycle of anxiety, something I cope with everyday." -14
- "I had to grow up faster than others I guess. As I got older I understood more about life. In middle school things got worse. I was teased, picked on, bullied. I started self harming and it continued throughout high school. Middle school was really hard for me even though I had been in the same school for elementary also. I felt like I didn't fit in. I felt like nobody wanted me there. One night in 6th grade i got a call from my cousin and my two "friends." They called me while yelling at me telling me I was better of dead and I was worthless and that I needed to kill myself now because no one would ever love me. I almost attempted suicide that night but instead I called this girl who I used to be really close with and cried to her all night. I realized that there is good people in the world and sometimes it takes a while to find them. In high school I found out who my real friends are. The ones that are always there for me no matter what. The bulling continued through middle school and stopped in 10th grade. 11th grade my family started having problems and i was diagnosed with severe anxiety and depression. I am on medication now and things are getting better. I do have days where I still feel like I used to but I talk to friends about it and those feelings are gone. I've also gotten closer to god and regained my faith. Things do get better, it just takes a little time." -16