How I did it: I fought severe depression and persistent suicidal thoughts through the worst few months of my life in college. Suicide was the ultimate urge to run: I just wanted all the pain to stop, worse pain and sorrow than I thought human hearts could feel or even imagine. But it also would have been the ultimate mistake of my life. Without living through those horrible months, I would never have come to experience the amazing joy and love that I understand life can give me now.

Lessons & tips: Fighting through it does make you so much stronger. I never thought I'd have to battle difficulties so bad that I would want to end my life. But now that I've lived through that and made it out in better shape, what else do I have to be afraid of?

Resources: Reach out to others. I had terrible trust issues with my close friends, and I isolated myself and dug myself deeper and deeper into depression. It took me making the first step and opening up to someone in order for me to pull myself out, with friends' help of course.

Dec 19, 2008, 09:21AM PST | 2 comments | 12 cheers