Photo taken by contributor Danielle in Pennsylvania. She suffers from recurrent major depressive episodes that can last from a few days to a few years. During those times, she shuts people out and stops being able to do almost everything. She has found that photography is one of the few things that she is able to do, and that it can be a good distraction from the darkness in her head.

About this photo: “I’m really bad at taking care of myself, especially when I’m in a depressed state. I let mental and physical problems go, and even showering is tough. I barely talk to anyone. Recently I reconnected with an old friend and it was a profound experience. We went out of town together for my birthday. I even treated myself to a pedicure. After not doing much or seeing many people for a very long time, it was nice to break the negative habits and do something relaxing for myself and something to connect with another person.“

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