Depression

I was irritable with everyone. I lost the ability to smile. It would take years for all of my issues to manifest fully and come to the surface. But being able to go through PTSD behavioral classes with a one-on-one counselor helped me a lot, and I found it also uplifting and relieving at the same time to find "like minded" people to share my mental health issues with.

I’m one of those people that if you knew me six or seven years ago you would never have thought I was suffering - or could ever suffer - from depression. I played football in college. I was a successful lawyer in the big city (Chicago) and a family man. A real guys’ guy. I didn’t sit in the corner of a dark room and cry. Instead I was angry. I was irritable. I had severe bouts of rage. I lashed out and couldn’t understand why.

My dream was always to be a mother. The day my first child was born, I felt something in me change completely. I didn’t know what it was... But when I saw my daughter, I felt happy, yet alongside that happiness came fear and an unknown feeling.