How Rock Bottom Saved Me
Sometimes our lowest point is our own saving grace
Growing up in a family where depression consumed a part of my everyday life, I always thought of myself as one of the lucky ones who got dealt just the right hand. A hand where I avoided inheriting such an awful and silent sickness. I was a happy-go-lucky gal living in an above average world going through the motions and keeping my head high above the water. My childhood was filled with laughter and love, and I often found myself being a sense of comfort for others. I was a light that helped guide those I adored through their hardest days; I was a consoling and uplifting voice who cheered them on from the sidelines during their darkest nights.
Very slowly I began to see the water rise higher and higher, but I kept telling myself it’s just temporary; it will pass. I told myself life will always be relentless, and I must keep moving on. I avoided the lingering thoughts of uneasiness and discontent at all cost, so I constantly distracted myself with alcohol and friends. I started seeing myself turn off the light that others relied on, and I found myself creating chaos to simply just feel. I would wake up and schedule my day around my soon to be drunken stupor. I only looked for fun and superficial, and I hated being alone.
As hard as I tried to escape my truth, the darkness kept slowly reeling me in. Things no longer seemed the same. I began noticing myself becoming dull, negative, and hopeless. Happiness seemed so unattainable. I self-sabotaged every decent thing that came my way, and eventually, it felt like I could no longer see. My clarity on life had completely vanished, and the clouds kept crashing in until all that was left was a very cold and midnight black.
It took hitting rock bottom to realize I was depressed.
I am not going to go into details of what my rock bottom looked like because I believe that this experience is personal and a very vulnerable time for many, but, what I will share with you is that rock bottom is one of those dreadful events in life that forces you one of two ways: you can either move up, or you can stay down. I stayed down for a long time, with my head under water trembling, until I thought I was going to suffocate from my own self-made hell.
Rock bottom is a scary and very lonely place, but a place that I needed. I needed to hit that point to realize how fortunate and privileged my life has been. I needed to ache in order to see ahead with a clear mind. All around me, the people who I had shown my light on throughout my life, were suddenly reaching out with kind words and understanding hearts. They were like angels holding my hand through the dark abyss and pulling me out from the murky water. It was a realization that changed my life. I knew I needed help, and I was just lucky enough to have a community of people armed and ready to guide me each step of the way.
Things are beginning to change; sometimes not as fast as I would like. I have accepted that I have fallen in a deep hole, and I am now trying to scrape my way back to the top day by day – a process that I have acknowledged is going to take time. And however long it takes until the top, I am ready for my next chapter. A chapter with a new mindset and new ambitions.
For those of you out there feeling trapped in the dark, I promise there is a way out. Sometimes we have to get to our lowest point in order to see the last flicker of hope and final saving grace. I am grateful to have hit mine because who knows how long I might have gone on in my clouded and depressed state. Thinking about all the life, love, and happiness I could have missed brings tears to my eyes. We all deserve a story with a happy ending. Keep pushing through. Stay strong and seek the help you need because you are ever so worthy.
I believe in you.
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A Glorious Year
Cheers to the new year, 2021. A toast! As we all know and can attest, life has its unexpected twists and turns, but I am certain that no other year will ever be harder or more challenging than the previous. I am hoping that you, 2021, will have brighter beginnings and much sweeter endings.
By Katy Pfefferkorn5 years ago in Motivation
“He Kept Going When No One Was Watching — And That Changed Everything”
No one ever noticed the days he almost gave up. There were no messages asking if he was okay. No one wondered why he became quieter. No one asked how much effort it took just to keep going. To the world, he was just another ordinary man. His name was Ayaan. Ayaan’s life didn’t collapse in one dramatic moment. It slowly faded. Missed opportunities. Rejected ideas. Silent disappointments. Every failure was small, but together they became heavy. He had dreams once. Big ones. Dreams that kept him awake at night, imagining a future where his hard work would finally matter. But over time, those dreams began to feel unrealistic—almost embarrassing. People around him seemed to move forward effortlessly. They celebrated promotions, achievements, and milestones. Ayaan watched from the side, smiling politely while feeling invisible. At work, his efforts were ignored. Among friends, his voice faded. At home, expectations weighed heavily on him. Slowly, a dangerous thought settled into his mind: “Maybe I’m not good enough.” That thought followed him everywhere. It followed him on crowded buses. It followed him into sleepless nights. It followed him every time he tried again and failed. One night, after scrolling through endless success stories online, Ayaan closed his phone and stared at the dark ceiling. His chest felt tight, not because of pain—but because of exhaustion. He whispered quietly, “How long do I keep trying?” There was no answer. But that night, Ayaan made a decision—not a loud one, not a confident one. A tired decision. He decided to keep going, even if nothing changed. The next morning felt the same. The same routine. The same doubts. The same fear of wasting his life. But Ayaan showed up anyway. He worked when no one praised him. He studied when no one guided him. He practiced when no one believed in him. Some days, motivation disappeared completely. On those days, discipline took over. He reminded himself: “I don’t need applause. I need progress.” Weeks passed. Nothing dramatic happened. No sudden success. No recognition. No miracle. But something subtle began to shift. Ayaan became calmer under pressure. He learned to sit with discomfort instead of running from it. He stopped comparing his journey to others. The silence that once scared him now became his training ground. Months later, a serious problem appeared at his workplace. It was complicated, risky, and easy to blame on someone else. Most people avoided it. Some pretended it wasn’t their responsibility. Ayaan didn’t announce himself. He didn’t seek attention. He simply started working. Late nights. Mistakes. Corrections. Learning. There were moments he wanted to quit. Moments when fear whispered, “You’re not ready.” But he answered back, “I’ll learn.” Slowly, the problem began to disappear. Not perfectly—but steadily. People noticed, quietly. One afternoon, his manager called him into the office. Ayaan expected criticism. Instead, he heard a question that stunned him: “Where did you learn all this?” Ayaan paused. How could he explain years of silent effort? How could he explain working when no one cared? He simply replied, “I kept going.” That moment didn’t change his life overnight. He didn’t become famous. He didn’t suddenly become successful. But it changed something far more important. His belief in himself. For the first time, Ayaan understood that life doesn’t always reward effort immediately. Sometimes, it watches. It watches who continues without praise. Who improves without recognition. Who grows in silence. Years later, Ayaan looked back at the version of himself who almost quit. The man who felt invisible. The man who thought no one was watching. And he smiled. Because he finally understood the truth: Life was always watching. Not to judge. Not to rush. But to see if he would keep going when it was hardest. The world doesn’t reward those who only work when they’re seen. It rewards those who build strength in silence. And sometimes, the moment that changes everything doesn’t come with applause. It comes quietly. After patience. After effort. After consistency. That is when everything finally begins to change. Final Message Keep going—even when no one is watching. Especially then.
By Inayat khan5 days ago in Motivation
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