Denise A. Kelley
Ayoka Boyce: When did you first notice that Depression was a part of your life?
Denise Kelly: I was in my 20’s,mid to late 20’s and going into my 30’s. I was never
officially diagnosed by a doctor. But I knew it was depression because of my
experience and knowledge. I wasn't going to go to a doctor or psychiatrist. But my
behaviors told the story.
Everything in that time period is a blur. Like I couldn't tell you that it started at this
age and ended at this age. It was a time that was clumped together like one big
event.
The trigger that started it all, I had a happy moment in life. People wanted be
around me, they wanted to hang with me. Then all of a sudden, no one wanted to
be around me, then I noticed no one was around me, so I went into seclusion.
Ayoka: Do you think the seclusion was a self sabotage?
Denise : Not really. When I first came here, I was the new person. Everyone saw
that I was different. I had a different way of thinking and doing everything. And
everyone embraced me. It was like, “Denise is this and that”. But jealousy came in
and seeds were planted. No one wanted to be a part of ‘my different’ anymore. And
this is a small town, so the negativity spread.