After years of sadness and inner pain, I’ve overcome my crippling depression and am living a joy-filled life again.  The biggest catalyst for my full recovery was a black cat named Sulu.

I had suffered from clinical depression for years. Anyone who has been stuck in that dark hole knows how debilitating this illness is; unable to enjoy life, to join social events (even something like birthday parties and Valentine’s Day was depressing for me), to hold positive thoughts in your mind, to concentrate, to look towards the future, to rally the energy to do anything worthwhile. Inner pain slices like a knife at your guts,  a heavy blanket smothers your efforts, and the real world passes by as if viewed through the dirt-smudged window of a train.

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