Sometimes, I worry about things ‘ordinary’ people probably don’t even think twice about; but these things feel like mountainous obstacles lying in wait for me.

Please don’t blame someone when their mental health declines. It can be tough to judge when one is deteriorating, even after collapsing thousands of times. Signs of decline are not always imminent. Most importantly, please don’t make a person who tried to commit suicide feel bad or guilty. Trust me, they already feel like the scum of the earth.

Whenever I tried to commit suicide, I didn’t try to kill myself. I tried to bury someone I no longer knew. Someone without a smile, hope, dreams, purpose, dignity, or lust for life.

Attempting suicide is one of the most intense, terrifying, and traumatic things one can ever experience in their lifetime. No human is designed to kill himself/herself.

So, for those experiencing suicidal thoughts, there is absolutely nothing to be embarrassed about, be ashamed of, or feel guilty about. Please reach out. Getting help does not make you a coward, low-life, attention-seeking, inferior, weak, unworthy, or any other derogatory terms people may spew at you. Being courageous enough to seek help takes superhuman strength. You deserve to feel better.

There is nothing more devastating thanbeing unable to verbalize something that turns your whole world upside down.

Mental health discussions should not hog the spotlight when celebrities are involved. Everything should not just be about the Chester Bennington’s and the Robin Williams’s of the world. Yes, they were truly remarkable people in their own right, but if we focus on helping the Average Joe or Plain Jane, we might unlock their ingenuity. Don’t overlook the ‘little man,’ everyone has something important to contribute to society, regardless of their socio-demographic background.

I could use various words to describe depression: brutal, unrelenting, gruesome, terrifying, exhausting, and demanding, but all these words would be an understatement to describe its sheer intensity and unforgiving nature.

Depression is like losing a loved one, but the person you lose is yourself.