Fighting for What’s Right

 

Politics has never just been about policies and party lines; it is fundamentally about people. It involves families striving to make ends meet, veterans seeking the benefits they were promised, educators dedicated to shaping the next generation, and women fighting for their right to make choices about their own bodies. However, these essential rights and values are threatened under the current administration, and I refuse to stand by and watch.

For years, I have dedicated my career to serving others, whether advocating for veterans by helping them navigate the complexities of VA benefits or training others in wellness and resiliency. I have also spent 15 years educating youth, shaping young minds to think critically about the world they will inherit. Now, I see that world being shaped by leaders who prioritize power over people, corporate greed over climate action, and control over freedom.

How I Found Hope Living with Depression

 

It has been almost two years since I contemplated dying by suicide. It was a dark time. A time that I do not want to go back to. There are days when I can't believe it ever happened. How did I become so hopeless that I thought death was the only answer?

Regardless of how I got to the dark time, I want to reflect on how far I have come today. This is not to say that life has been all rainbows and butterflies—it hasn't been. Life happens. However, when life happens, I am much better prepared for the rough road ahead than I was two years ago.

Coping with Depression

Check out my blog posts about coping with depression on healthyplace.com

Today, there is still a stigma about depression: "Why can't people just snap out of it?" If it were only that easy! Being diagnosed with a depressive disorder is more than just feeling sad sometimes. First, Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a condition that causes a persistently low or depressed mood – not situational sadness or feeling low. Sometimes, it can be triggered, and sometimes, it can be out of the blue. Regardless of how it comes about, MDD affects sleep, appetite, energy, ability to focus, and interest in usually enjoyable things (Cleveland Clinic, 2022). Coping with MDD is multi-faceted. There is not just one solution or magic pill that improves or cures mental health – it is a mixture of things that help people (and me) cope.