Before my battle with depression I always had a firm control over my life and knew wholeheartedly who I was, but after it became a part of me I found it harder and harder to remember who I was before it. Frankly, I felt stuck living in a reality that I desperately hoped was just one phase of my life. I questioned almost everything I did and felt, and oftentimes did not trust myself to make my own decisions. This graphic is meant to symbolize the mental battle that anyone suffering from depression knows all too well. The boy symbolizes who I was before. I would describe my pre-depression self as the epitome of the phrase, "Ignorance is bliss." The gate is the barrier between my old self and my new self. The gate is essential to this piece because it highlights the notion that my old self wants to resurface, but can't because of everything I have experienced and know now.

If you are currently stuck between your old self and who you are becoming, please trust your instincts. I choose to believe that most people naturally want to be good, so you are no different. Deep down inside you know what's best for you, but you must learn to trust yourself again. Developing that trust helps you to build confidence in yourself for the future when decisions may be more difficult. Also, it is a good stepping stone on your way to feeling better about yourself and your circumstance.

Everyone needs someone and if you want to hear more from me, you know what to do.