I am a 13-year-old who lives in northern Portugal, and while it's true that the vast majority of teens suffer from depression, mine is different.
Before I went to grade school, I was a happy kid, extroverted and showing a talent for the violin. But when I was 6, I met a girl who I thought was so beautiful that I couldn't look at her.
As much as adults might insist that love in a 6-year-old is impossible, that's the only thing it could have been. And the idea that she didn't love me back gave me many nights of pain and even sent me to the hospital for an emotional breakdown. My parents don't have the time for my emotions. My intense love has turned me into a bitter teen. How can I ease my pain?
