Continued from last week…
Susan’s life practically took a long hike to sh*tsville. She couldn’t wrap her head around bagging an extra year, and the extra money her Dad will have to pay for the summer fees. She felt dejected, her life was a living mess.
She picked up her phone to call her Dad. The words fell from her mouth as she exhaled “Hello Daddy”.
He replied, “Susan I hope it’s not money you’re calling me for because I don’t have”. She rolled her eyes, “No daddy I was just calling to say hello.” “This is not a matter to discuss on the phone,” she thought.
Summer came and she went back home. A few days after returning from the university and endless indecision on when to break the news to her dad, she finally summoned the little courage she had left, and walked into her father’s room to break the grave news. He threw his slipper at her fuming;
“You are a disappointment! I am not paying any more fees on your head. So, good luck”.
Susan felt her life was over. She was greatly perturbed. She started blaming herself for everything that happened and resulted in self-harm. She started taking hard drugs!
As promised, her father didn’t pay her fees but her elder brother stepped in. She returned to school for the summer but kept up the habit of consuming hard drugs and harming herself.
Along the line, a lady porter at her hostel reception saw the cuts on her wrists and ankles.
She invited Susan in for questioning. Alarmed at the surface information shared with her, the woman scheduled Susan for a meeting with the School psychologist.
The school psychologist, Mrs Linda Peters was a calm lady who had this deep gaze as if she could look into anyone’s soul. Susan walked into her office barely catching her breath, and Mrs Linda could tell almost everything happening to her. She offered Susan a seat, and they started talking.
After an hour of tell-it-all with Susan, Mrs. Linda knew she needed to call Susan’s father. ‘The pain this 20-year-old is feeling is so much to bear’ she thought. Mrs. Linda invited Susan’s father for a chat.
Her father was available for their next session and he came with the impression that his daughter had landed into some more trouble. “What has she done again?” he asked Mrs Linda. “And you Susan, when will you stop bringing shame to this family?”.
Mrs Linda knew what was going on here. Susan was constantly talked down by her father, and that affected her academics, social life and eventually, her mental health.
She explained to Susan’s father his role in building Susan’s mind with love, and through words of encouragement.
He was moved to silence and to Susan’s surprise, he apologized to her. He didn’t realize the impact of the words he spoke to Susan and how it affected her psychologically.
The reconciliation was marvellous and for the first time in a very long time, Susan could see a light at the end of the tunnel.
Susan attended six weeks of rehab with counseling sessions from Mrs Linda.
Eight months later, Susan graduated feeling grateful and most importantly, she had peace of mind.
If you ever feel depressed, don’t hesitate to speak to a counsellor or a psychologist nearest to you.
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Were you ever depressed at some point? How did you overcome it? Let us know in the comment section, your story could be what someone needs.
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