kate congerVerifizierter Account

Today is a good day, so it's time for a personal story. Last year I became depressed. It's hard to explain *why* and that's part of the struggle with such an illness. I would routinely feel sad and demotivated. I felt like I was doing shitty work, and I thought about death.

I lost joy in many things I would normally enjoy, including spending time with my partner and my friends, and even writing—a job that has been a lifelong dream. I realized the best way to get out of the hole was for me to take time off from work and focus on self-care.

I was lucky that everyone at Vice, including my editors @jason_koebler, @emanuelmaiberg, and the newsrooms leaders @derektmead and @katiedrumm were totally on board, and encouraging of me taking time off—even if they didn't know exactly what was going on.

I can't stress enough how important their support was. My family and friends were another huge support. And now, months later, I'm steadily getting out of the hole. It may remain a lifelong struggle, but I have better tools to face the challenge. And I have the strenght to fight.

I share this because I'm not the only one, especially in these trying times. Take care of yourselves, and don't be afraid to ask for help. Don't feel shame, we're all struggling one way or the other. Realizing this literally saved my life.

Thanks to all who have reached out showing your support. It means a lot, and you should know it's very important. Support your friends and loved ones. A lot of us suffer in silence.