Depression Takes Over

       Ever since my mom was a teenager she has been under constant stress from depression. Depression runs in the family on my moms side and almost every family member out of seven has it. Throughout the years, we have good days and bad days. I don't know if many people know this but when you put many people with clinical depression in the same room with the same situation, it is not pretty. When your in your worst mood, you need others to help you and support you. You need them to be there for you. So when the whole family is like this, everyone needs help and no one can give it so things start to get worse. 

       I remember this one specific moment with my mom when I was about 14 when she was in a very bad state. It was the winter, and as you know, in the winter we do not get very much sun (when you are depressed you need the sun to be out to keep you warm and to give you nutrients to be happy) and my mom was going through a lot. My parents were fighting, my brother was not doing very well in school, and my mom and I were fighting a great deal also. My mom was lying in her bed after a fight with my dad over something ridiculous like it always is and I was upset with something else in my room. I was in desperate need of my mother at that time so I went in to go talk to her. Little did I know, she was in her room upset about the fight, so we were both in there crying to each other knowing that we couldn't help each other. Once my brother heard me and my mom crying he came upstairs to see what was up. (My brother has always been the one to settle the fights and make people feel better in our family and I really look up to him and admire him for that). Once I was done sharing why I was upset it was my moms turn. This is when I realized that something was extremely wrong. I had never seen my mom so upset before. I didn't know what was wrong and why she was acting that way. Then I heard them, the stabbing words that cut deep into my heart pouring out of her mouth. 

      "The only reason why I am still alive, is because of you guys, my children." 

       Those words really hit me hard. After that sentence came out I realized that I really needed to step up in this family and help out a lot more. My brother was leaving for college soon and I was the only one who understood my mom at the time. I needed to take control and help my mom out as much as possible. 

My mom has been getting help everyday from many people and she is slowly making progress and I always try to be there for her when I can. It does get tough at some times but we are strong enough to get through this and we have so many people that are willing to help us out. Being in this situation for a large part of my life has really taught me many things. I feel as if I am an independent strong person and it has made me realize that I need to put others before myself and make sacrifices for others.