"I was 15. They took me to see the doctor because they thought I
was a bit down and I had started cutting. I hadn’t noticed much,
cutting made me feel better and I just felt they were having a bit
of a go really. It was only when I started to talk more, that I
started to realise how much I had changed, I used to be happy, not
all the time, but I couldn’t now - not like I used to.
I was falling out with my teachers - they said I wasn’t getting
on with work and it made me cross. I was trying but I just couldn’t
get on with it not like I did in year 8 and 9. The doctor said it
could be my concentration. I hadn’t thought of that I just thought
I was thick. Then when he asked about other things, I started to
see, I couldn’t sleep properly and didn’t feel like going out to
play football anymore. I said it was just boring, but as I started
to feel better, I did play again and I think saying it was boring
was all part of my depression. That was the same with my family, I
mean you don’t get on all time do you and they are still a pain
sometimes now, but when I was depressed it was like we were always
arguing, I just couldn’t talk to them and they just wound me
up.
It wasn’t till they talked to me and things started to change,
that was when I looked back and realised how depressed I was."