As a mental health advocate and person, who deals with mental health issues of my own, I often get asked by people questions about how I feel, etc.

Often times these questions start with Do you ever feel, or does this ever happen to you. Below is one of those questions and my response, which I hope gives those that are struggling too with depression, the ability to see, hope, light and have faith in themselves.

I'm depressed and find no joy in anything. What should I do?

I tell you what I did.  I waited for few years for it to pass and tried to live normal live in the process. It did not work.

Then I found something that gave me joy at least momentarily!

I started to research my depression. I read lot of books from Freud and Jung. I read spiritual literature. I studied science of how our brain works. I learned about yoga & journaling. 

It was something I could attach my mind to. I believed that if I truly understand what is going on with myself and what are possible causes of my suffering, there may be light at the end of the tunnel.

I took many wrong turns but looking back, the journey was the thing that truly mattered. Step by step, through certain realizations of things that happened in my life, in my childhood and with help of certain mind techniques, I feel good now.

I still feel the demon is lurking somewhere inside me but we are friends today. I accepted him fully. I let him win from time to time but we both know now it is better to cooperate than to fight.

I wish from all my heart you make friends with your demons as well.