Escape the Maze

It is important to take time for yourself. Whether you've had a crazy day at work, run around all day doing errands or sat at home on your computer, at the end (or middle) of each day, you should give yourself at least five minutes. Some people call it meditation, but I don't consider it that way. I don't sit quietly, I don't close my eyes and think of nothing. All I do is connect to myself. Sometimes I write, or sometimes I play guitar, or maybe I just lay on my bed and listen to music. But the imperative part is to listen to yourself. For years, I pushed down my instincts, which only tried to protect me. I ignored the voice in my head telling me what was right and wrong. I gave into pressure from the people around me, and I had no opinion of my own. I felt terrible about myself, and I knew that what I was doing was unhealthy. But it took me years to overcome this dangerous habit of mine. At the end, it was one of the major pieces of the puzzle, something that gave...

I have met many wonderful people via the internet, and some not so wonderful people. Two of my best friends, L and M, (who live in NY and Belgium, respectively) I met online. They are strong, inspiring humans, and I feel lucky to call them my friends. A few years ago, I met a friend online, S. We were really good friends for a while, until our lives, studies, religions and opinions eventually drove us apart. Unfortunately, it ended unfavorably. That was the first "bad" internet relationship I've had. I suppose that's not entirely true. About three years ago, I was in need of friends, and decided finding a penpal or two would be good. I was friends with this guy N, who lived in Hawaii, a 13-hour time difference from me. We emailed a couple times, and then one day, we were both online simultaneously. So we started chatting, and the emails slowly dwindled. I would find myself chatting to him at insane hours of the morning, because it was only afternoon by him. We woul...

I've been blogging on and off for a few years. Even before then, I was writing. Whether it was stories in my notebook or scribbles on scraps of paper, I didn't care. I've found things that I've written from over ten years ago! I'm 18, and online, I'll go by Bex. Some people might know me, or recognize me or my story, but that's okay. I don't mind people knowing who I am, but I don't want to publicize my identity either. I've recently decided to start blogging again, and this time, I'm going to share it. I want to help people. I want to guide others who are in my situation, let them know that they're not alone. I've been through hell and back, and I believe I can use my experience in a way that will benefit myself and others. Where do I start? Let's start with the name of this blog. "Escape the maze." This is a term I have recently started using, to describe my battle with depression. I was 12 years old, when I fir...