From Depression To Somewhere Better — How Writing Saved My Life
From being at my lowest to where I am now I owe it to writing
Picture the scene, it was one year ago. I was where I would always have been a year ago, in my bed. Doing nothing, wasting away. It didn’t begin like that, of course, at first it was canceling a plan here and there, and before I knew it, I was leaving the house once a fortnight for essentials.
It was grim. My life had become nothing. A life without purpose is no life at all. You might think that this was because of some major event that happened in my life but no, it just happened gradually.
And honestly, I don’t think I’m the only person who has suffered through this, I mean that’s obvious, let me rephrase. I believe that at least half of young men go through this phase, and some aren’t able to pull themselves out of it. I fortunately was able to get myself out of the realm of despair.
Again, you might think something major happened that made me make this change, but no. Well, it was major to me, I took a look at myself in the mirror one day, hadn’t left the house in days, hadn’t eaten, hadn’t drunk anything, in fact, I’d just woke up, at 5 PM. Yep, like 17:00.
I looked at myself disgusted. Not recognizing the person looking back at me. This wasn’t the same young lad who had enjoyed playing out in the street with jumpers for goalposts or the teen who loved playing video games with his mates, it wasn’t even anything. It was a waste of space, doing nothing every day.
That day, seeing myself in the mirror, hit me hard. I said to myself, that’s it, no more. Tomorrow we change.
Fast forward a few months later:
- I land a job
- I leave the house five times a week
- My sleep slightly improves
It wasn’t enough. I’d made decent progress but I could feel myself slipping again. I couldn’t accept that. What else could I do, I wondered. I started trying to make money online. I launched a personal brand in early 2023. I started on Twitter, now X, learning how to write and selling Ghostwriting services. I know, Ghostwriting services from a beginner, what was I thinking?
Then, out of nowhere, I’m working one day, and up walks a girl. She chats to me, a lot, and I’m my silent self. Not because I want to be, I’m just not great at the whole speaking aspect of life (when people ask about my best skill I say I’m a brilliant listener). Well, we’ve been dating for a year now, and I’ve never been happier.
Fast forward again:
- Still working
- Leave the house every day
- Healthy relationship
- Eating healthier
- Improving sleep
- Exercising occasionally
I eventually made a few bucks on Twitter from my writing, totaling around $150 in the space of 8 months. It was tough, knowing I’d put that much effort in for such little reward.
Again, I felt myself slipping, back into old habits, self-doubt starting to break the walls I’d set up. My defenses were wearing thin. Twitter wasn’t working, I need a new plan.
And then, like a message from the almighty himself, a Twitter post appeared. It spoke about how someone was earning consistent $800 a month on Medium.
Medium? What on earth is Medium?
I looked it up, I watched countless YouTube videos trying to prove that it was too good to be true. I just write? That’s it? No marketing, no chasing clients for money? I just write..?
I signed up for the Medium Partner Program on November 20th. Here are my stats, as of February 8th:
January Stats
How much I’ve earned from Medium
So, the last fast forward. How am I today?
- Still working
- Earning consistent money online
- Sleeping better
- Eating better
- Leaving the house every day
- Me and the missus celebrated our first year together a fortnight ago
- I’m happy
My life has never been better, and it’s all thanks to writing and further Medium.
If you ever feel low in your life, or like you have no purpose, you have to push through it. Do not let it take over. The longer you let yourself continue to exist into the nothingness the harder it’ll be to get out. If you don’t feel yourself when you look in the mirror, make a change.
Seriously, you’ll scoff but getting outside and getting some fresh air makes the world of difference. As does drinking plenty of water, and eating good food. The basics are ignored because they are basic, but they are the building blocks of a happy life.
Don’t exist, don’t survive, thrive. Rise like a phoenix from the ashes and become the best version of yourself.
Thanks For Reading
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Until next time,
Jeff.
