Introduction to Rachel Craft, Author of ‘Coping with Depression’

I’m Rachel Craft, and I’m excited to join the Coping with Depression blog at HealthyPlace. I was diagnosed with depression over a decade ago in college. As a type-A perfectionist, I was constantly overwhelmed with stress and never got enough sleep. My habitually low self-esteem took a dive at one point, and I developed an eating disorder and started experimenting with self-harm. It was a terrifying period of my life because I realized I might not survive if I didn’t find help.

Rachel Craft’s Path to Recovery from Depression

A few years of therapy in college helped me find recovery. I worked hard to rebuild my self-esteem and develop a healthy relationship with food, and I learned techniques to cope with my depression. I found joy in sports, travel, and outdoor activities. After graduating, I worked as an engineer for nine years before changing course to follow my true passion: writing.

My depression still rears its ugly head sometimes. As a writer, I face constant rejection, which takes a toll on my self-esteem. The state of the world we live in often fills me with existential dread, which further fuels my depression. I’m constantly working to maintain my mental health and prevent it from deteriorating like it did in college. When I fall into a depressive episode, I use the techniques I learned years ago to climb back out.  

Rachel Craft Accepts Her Depression

One of the biggest things I did for my mental health in college was to accept it. At first, I struggled with feeling broken and unworthy, which only exacerbated my mental illness. Once I accepted it as a part of me rather than a personal failure, it became much easier to manage. I realized that, although there is no cure, I could learn to live with depression and still have a happy, healthy life.

To learn more about me and what I want to offer readers, watch this:

I’m excited to share the tools I’ve learned for coping with depression with HealthyPlace readers. One of the most important tools for me is having a support structure that I can lean on. Unfortunately, not everyone has a supportive family like mine. I hope this blog can be a source of support and understanding for anyone out there who’s struggling.