Over ten years ago, when I was 21, I went through a bout of depression. I started working right after junior college, following seniors for about a year. Then I got moved to a hectic department. No more after-5 fun—just constant work pressure.
Those tough days dragged on, and just as I was getting the hang of it, mornings hit me with overwhelming gloom, turning into a daily battle over whether to go to work.
Around then, I was also down about a crush on a coworker who wasn’t interested. Looking back, it was clearly “that kind of phase,” but at the time, the endless cloudy days, restless sleep filled with work stress, and no mental break wore me out. My mom even joined the morning fight.
Getting up felt impossible—my body resisted so hard that it was like a tug-of-war with Mom pulling me up.
Deciding not to go eased my mind, but until then, my body felt like lead. When I realized I couldn’t go on, I asked Mom to take me to a doctor. I saw a psychiatrist, who suggested a leave of absence.
Once it got that bad, the doctor said stepping away was best. I took a few months off, quit that job, and ended up back at my old student gig at a movie theater—something easygoing.
Quitting work can bring guilt, so I learned to do what I could and let life flow naturally.
Eventually, I moved to the city, went to a vocational school, and became a photographer. I found a much happier path than my original one, and now I’m grateful for that depression phase.
※本記事は個人のうつ病体験談です。体験内容はあくまで個人の体験であり、医療アドバイスではありません。専門的なアドバイスを希望する場合は医師へ相談を。
※This article is a personal depression story. The content is solely based on personal experience and is not medical advice. Consult a doctor for professional advice.