Tresser : We just don ' t take it for depression . It took this struggle for me to learn that I shouldn ' t care what other people think of my life . Society would find it more acceptable for me to drink or smoke weed to deal with depression , but if I take Zoloft , then that makes me ‘ crazy ’. The double standard boggles my mind .
I found out that my dad suffered from ptsd . He was a veteran and he was a ‘ happy ; alcoholic . He was actually an alcoholic all of my life . But we all enjoyed him better when he was drunk . I found out later that he also did cocaine . The Alcohol and drugs is how he dealt with his depression and his PTSD .
I have family that medicates themselves with weed , alcohol , and crack . But when I mentioned my medication for depression even they look at me with their eyes bugged , like hey , you ’ re really crazy . I ’ m crazy . But a crutch can be food , alcohol , cocaine or crack .
How things started … I ' m the oldest of 3 . My siblings smoked and drank alcohol . I had the pressure to succeed . I didn ’ t want to drink because my father drank . Now that we are older , we see that the things we did were trying to cope . My mom didn ' t want me to drink like my dad . Plus , because I was the oldest , she expected to be the ‘ example ’ for my siblings .
I see so many people dealing with it , in my family , but I am the only one that deals with it head on .
I spoke at an event in church , After the event , a young lady stood up .. She was in tears . She had just started college and said that I answered the question for her . She couldn ' t figure out what was wrong with her . She wanted to commit suicide . I stood up with her , And I let her know , I too wanted to commit suicide and that I would be there for her . In that moment , hearing her be bold enough to talk about it , I had to talk to her .