| I returned to work after the Christmas and New | | | | very low self-esteem and a lack of confidence. I |
| Year celebrations in quite an upbeat mood and | | | | was not exactly popular at school which to be fair |
| feeling refreshed. I was however quite amazed | | | | was my own fault because I did not mix or |
| when seeing all of the unhappy and depressed | | | | participate enough. At that stage of my life I |
| faces of some of the people who work with me | | | | would constantly be feeling sorry for myself and |
| in our office. Some I suppose would call it the | | | | was over jealous of what my friends seemed to |
| January blues but it has once again reminded me | | | | have compared to me. |
| of the stage of my life when I was very | | | | This depression did not really ever go away |
| depressed. I was one of the lucky ones who | | | | however was only ever a mild form of |
| managed to receive some very good advice and | | | | depression. That at least was until the age of |
| supportive help, enabling me to eradicate the | | | | twenty-one, then it became a whole lot worse. I |
| depression. | | | | was struggling in life and I saw myself as a failure. |
| I am not really sure of the reasons why but | | | | My friends and family rallied round to support me |
| depression seems to be a common thing for | | | | and made me realise that I needed to think in a |
| members of my family. This in a way ended up | | | | much more positive way. I also needed to relax a |
| being a good thing as my parents were able to | | | | lot more and basically to not be so paranoid. |
| see the warning signs whenever I hit a very low | | | | To help me to achieve this I took up tai chi |
| point and are also able to share their knowledge | | | | lessons and I also meditate three times a day. I |
| of how to get through these periods. | | | | am happy to say that these simple methods |
| I first suffered with depression when I was about | | | | worked for me. |
| fourteen. I was a very shy teenager who had a | | | | |