Because my first thought was how glad I am that someone will understand my experience now, I couldn’t bring myself to admit to anyone that my daughter was dealing with depression. I had convinced myself that her struggles were a reflection of my failure as a parent. But the truth was, I was drowning in my own sadness and I couldn’t fully be there for her. It wasn’t until she attempted suicide that I realized the gravity of the situation. My guilt and shame suffocated me as I watched her struggle to find the will to live in a world that felt so heavy. I know now that I should have seen the signs, that I should have done more. The thought that I could have lost her because of my own inadequacies haunts me every single day.
