Thea is 31 years old and works as a project manager for a non-governmental organization. She loves organizing projects, bringing people together, and inspiring others with her openness and vibrant energy. Anyone who knows her would describe her as outgoing, full of life, and enthusiastic. Yet, that very lightness began to slip away. Toward the end of 2023, a series of deaths and severe illnesses among those close to her took a heavy toll. Her drive started to fade, and her mood grew increasingly dark. Recognizing immediately that something was wrong, Thea tried to counter it on her own—turning to yoga, a gratitude journal, and daily routines. While these practices offered a brief sense of stability, the lows kept coming back in waves. Activities that used to bring her joy and lift her spirits, like yoga or running, completely lost their effect. Bit by bit, depression quietly took over her life.

Over time, Thea noticed her energy at work was rapidly draining. Tasks that used to be second nature suddenly felt completely overwhelming. Difficulty concentrating and a deep sense of being utterly buried by her workload set in. More and more often, she experienced a racing heart on the job—sometimes so intense it took her breath away. One day, things got so bad that she had to leave work and go straight to the doctor. Tests confirmed her heart was perfectly healthy; her symptoms were psychological, and she was told she needed to look after herself. Ultimately, Thea drew a line. She went on medical leave for several weeks just to find some semblance of peace again.

Left feeling helpless, Thea could no longer make sense of her world:

“I didn’t know what was happening to me, and I had no idea when it would ever stop.”

Her only instinct was to crawl into a shell at home. Going out and doing things felt completely impossible, even though she had always been such an extroverted person. She didn’t recognize herself anymore, and even the smallest everyday situations felt like too much to handle.

“I would literally choose to leave things behind at the supermarket rather than approach someone to ask where to find them.”

Her self-doubt only continued to grow.

Thea found herself putting more and more pressure on herself. Knowing that, at this stage, the depression wouldn't simply vanish on its own, she refused to let herself just lie around. She began searching for support—listening to podcasts, reading books, and even calling the medical on-call service to find an available therapy slot. Yet, staying proactive during such an acute phase felt incredibly daunting. Fortunately, her partner stepped in to support her, taking over the critical phone calls when it all became too much.

Crucial support also came from her family and friends. Thea spoke openly about her situation and realized just how liberating this honesty could be. She shared how she was feeling, what she needed, what she managed to achieve—and what she couldn't. These conversations helped not only her but also those around her to truly understand what she was going through.

She told her closest loved ones:

“You need to be the ones to tell me now, 'We’re picking you up next Tuesday and we’re going to do something.'”

Planning activities herself was simply out of the question at that point.

Instead of pushing her away, her loved ones responded with deep understanding and care. This acceptance gave her the security of knowing she wasn't alone. She didn't have to hide her depression and felt completely accepted for who she was.

Another vital anchor during her depression was deprexis. Recommended by a psychotherapist, Thea discovered this digital therapy program for treating depression and used it to bridge the gap while waiting for an available therapy slot. Despite her depression, navigating the application process for the online therapy felt completely manageable. The program helped her rebuild belief in herself and her abilities, encouraging her to celebrate the small victories in her daily life.

The exercises that challenged her thought patterns proved particularly helpful. She learned to view her negative thoughts from a different perspective—sometimes like a researcher, other times from a bird's-eye view. Statements like "I can't do anything" slowly transformed into "I can achieve small things, and at least I managed to go grocery shopping today." With every completed session, she reclaimed a piece of her self-confidence.

Through a combination of therapy, medication, and deprexis, Thea slowly began to reclaim her daily life. Establishing her first small routines provided much-needed structure, eventually allowing her to return to work part-time. Thea knows that setbacks may happen again, but she has found the tools she needs to stabilize herself, step by step.

Today, Thea wants to encourage others to speak openly about mental health. In particular, conversations with like-minded people who had been through similar struggles gave her the hope she needed that things would get better for her, too.

“Seeking help, asking for help, and actually accepting that help is absolutely paramount. The feeling of asking for help is never worse than being left all alone with it.”