Hi there,

I've been planning to discuss this for a while, but I think that only now I'm finally able to express some deep feelings without fear and reservations. I would like to know what are your thoughts about professionals who struggle(d) with depression and work in the mental health field. Would you feel more connected knowing that someone could relate to your experience or would you doubt their skills, since you know what their weaknesses are, like: "you are just like me, why should I trust you?"

The reason I ask this is because of my own story. I've dealt with a horrible, dark period of depression that basically 'deleted' one full decade of my life; that was a time when I had to find a motive to wake up the next morning, every day. Like many of us, I tried everything in order to survive, until I found what works best for me (everyone is different). Some new behavioral habits as physical exercises and CB therapy gave me a new breath of life, but something was still missing. Depression abruptly took many loved ones away from me, so I realized that perhaps I could fight it back in an effective way: understanding it, learning about it, and making it my career. It is with a great sacrifice that I am pursuing this academic journey, but I'm utterly passionate. I believe that the combination of education, wisdom, and empathy is a set of skills that every professional in the mental health area should have. But there are always some uncertainties about how will it be seeing people in the same gloomy place that I'd been before and how will they react towards me. I guess the only sure thing is that I will never give up on this dream.
I'd love to hear some honest opinions about it.

Be Well