Issue Position: Mental Health Awareness (Depression Is Real)

Issue Position

I want to start off by saying that depression is very real. About 10 to 15 years ago, around my early 20's to mid 20's or so, if a person close to me would say they were depressed, I would say, "Suck it up and do better." That is until I had the unfortunate experience of going through depression myself. Let me say this, it is a horrible experience and I would not wish it upon anyone.

When I was discharged from the army I became an over-the-road truck driver and I think that is when mild symptoms of depression started. I am not blaming the trucking industry at all. However, I was so used to the military life and it took me some time to adjust to civilian life again. An over-the-road trucker really has no social life while out on the big road. I would stay on the road for four to six weeks before coming home for off time, which only lasted about four days. I did not know what I was going to do with my life. I knew I could not make a career out of trucking because I had an injury stemming from the military that was gradually getting worse. I had no plan, really did not want to go back to school either.

About two years into my trucking career, I developed a blood clot in my leg. I could have died and did not know it. So I ended up being off work for some time. Had to give myself shots in the stomach of blood thinners. I felt like some heroin addict, with bruises around my stomach. And that is were I believe the depression symptoms really got worse. You see, I was just about living from check to check, and while I was down and not working, the bills started to pile up. I cannot describe the feeling of not knowing where you are going to get your next dollar from all while bills are still do. I became a person who worried about everything. I had no money, the doctor would not release me back to work until it was certain that the blood clot had dissolved, all while having know income. Thankfully, at least I was able to live with my parents through it all.

I was discharged from the army after having surgery on my lower back and I only recieved 10% compensation from the VA. Not much at all. So after I finally did get back to work, only two years later I ended up having another lower back surgery to remove some broken bone that was pressing a nerve that cause my foot to not function normally. So again I was out of work. I almost gave up. I am not a suicidal person. However, I did question life. Nothing mattered to me. It seemed that I did not have emotions towards anything. I would ask my self, "Is life really worth living?"

To make a long story short. I eventually got it together. Got my finances in order. Found a new love for life and I will always show sympathy and try to offer advice to a person who says they are depressed. Even if the person is just looking for attention, we as people should still give them the attention a person my be looking for because that attention could very well save their lives.

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