> The part of my brain that was able to rationalise the distorted thoughts had stopped working, and now I was believing every irrational fear that came into my

> The part of my brain that was able to rationalise the distorted thoughts had stopped working, and now I was believing every irrational fear that came into my brain as if it were absolute fact. I descended rapidly into paranoid delusions which had me convinced that the world was going to end that very day -- and I was the only one who knew about it. Yeah that's a pretty deep low. Mine was when I was convinced that a classmate was a ghost, and seemed to be stalking me everywhere. Eventually I broke down and confessed to him, and like a smashed mirror, all illusions disappeared. In horror I took a year off my studies. Recovery from deep holes like that may seem impossible but it's not. Accept also that there is no quick fix, no magic bullet, and that even when you're out of the tunnel, it may still take a long time to be 'normal'. But this will also make you stronger and more empathic - and that is valuable. I don't mean it in a hippie way, but too many people lack these, and so in a way you're blessed, because your worldview has shifted and you to begin see 'more'. You will also eventually learn to make peace with yourself: it's OK to trip up, it's OK have these 'glitches'. Final note: I cannot emphasise enough about having a good support network. Even if you have no one to trust, at the very least avoid toxic company. And by the way, you'll be surprised by what you'll get when you reach out just a little. After all, your dignity is nothing compared to your sanity, so confess to your mom, blubber on the phone with the Samaritans, break down in front of your tutor ... usually, you will find that at their core, humans are kind. Edit: typo