I am 28yrs. And my ordeal started when i was in Primary/elementary school, i had gone to visit my grand mother and there i found also many other extended family members including distant relatives. I was exhausted that night and i slept early.
I woke up at around 8 or 9pm and i overheard one of a distant relative that i had known that very day narrating to others of his near death experience when he was very sick a few years back. The details he went through explaining his illusions gave me chills and since then, I developed fear and could sleep that night. I was too young to handle what i overheard and couldnt shake it off my head. My greatest fear was "what if this happens to me ?". Fear worsened and i couldnt stand dark places, being alone , for i was imagining that what happened to my relative could happen to me at any time. Eventually i ended up in a full blown major depression as i came to understand years later. I went into denial and never told my family and i never went for medical checkup. I fought each day and its woes through elementary school,High school and eventually to University. Because of my quiet nature, my family could notice that i was becoming way too quiet and gloomy but when asked i said i was fine. This quiet, less social became my new normal with everyone.
Along the way over the years i experienced almost all the signs and symptoms as described in the literature, I had experienced the darkest moments over and over again, I was in a place where the word happy was not achievable and there seemed to be no way out. After many years i learnt to convince myself that my brain was playing games with me.I started to IGNORE all the negative thoughts manufactured by my own brain !! and i involved myself in activities that made me feel useful and occupied , avoided sad situations, and gradually improved. It started with a few minutes/day of genuine happiness and a calm mind which was thoughts free, it went to hours then days ,weeks and now i recovered fully but a few things stuck.
1. I developed memory issues worsened by stress.
2. Fatigue with minimal work.
3. Still struggling with social interractions but significantly better than before.
At the University i qualified and joined med school and finished last year. I feel i cannot continue with my medical career in direct patient care due to my memory issues, but i feel i should pursue other related courses e.gMasters in Public health and engage in research with what is left of my brain.
I am generally happy , i can laugh , joke and have fun, make new friends, work well despite memory issues. I developed experience in handling low/sad moments and this prevented me from having relapses.
I can assure you,i had full recovery so can you..