“Sometimes space is good, like sitting and not talking.”

What kind of stigma did you experience/observe?

A child being hospitalized. Taken away from the outside world.

Stigma story

I was only 12 years old when I first started to feel different. I stopped sleeping, socializing, moving, and stopped doing what I loved to do. I started cutting myself to take away the pain.

It made my life harder, hiding it all from my parents, wearing concealing clothing, etc.

My parents brought me to a therapist. I thought she was helping, but she wasn’t. I realized how important it was that I find a therapist who I could relate to. I was sent to a psychiatrist first. And my new Therapist thought I was doing great.

I started cutting again, and felt as though there was no way out other then to kill myself.

I got put into an adolescent psychiatric hospital and went to groups and started to feel better.

When I got out I felt like a new person. I truly believed I was wanted. That people really did love me.

I started playing tennis again. I hadn’t played since before my depression. I was better then most players my age and won everything. I have now been getting better and better at tennis. And I’m feeling even better about myself as the weeks pass.

It’s only been a few handfuls of months. But I feel so much better.

What could someone have said/done to make it ok?

Sometimes space is good, like sitting and not talking. But it’s not good if you are behind a closed door alone. And simple distractions, like music, really help.