At an early age, Eric began struggling with depression. Over time, his world grew smaller. “I stopped doing anything,” he recalls. “I was putting on weight, felt worse, and was angry all the time.”

In late 2023, Eric’s primary care provider referred him to Barbara Davis, LCSW, an integrated behavioral health clinician in Belfast. “He was struggling with family dynamics,” Barbara says. “He felt more attention went to his half-brother with a developmental disorder, and being out in public with his family caused intense anxiety.”

At his lowest point, Eric told Barbara he had a plan to end his life. “Once it was brought out in the open with his family, everything began to change for him,” Barbara recalls. She encouraged him to meet with Dr. Van Lonkhuyzen for medication support.

“Barbara was someone to talk to about what was wrong,” Eric says. “It was really nice to be able to articulate how I felt.” Through counseling, he learned to communicate his needs, set boundaries, and rebuild trust with his family. “That was the big thing,” he says. “I was able to reconnect with my family better.”

Today, Eric is in a very different place. He recently graduated high school and is preparing to start college, majoring in journalism and minoring in sports communication. His dream is to work for ESPN, analyzing draft picks and trades.

“A couple years ago, I wouldn’t be talking about stuff like this—I didn’t even know if I’d live long enough to go to college,” he says. “Now I have a plan for my life.”

He’s still a bit nervous about college life—getting to class on time, managing coursework, and meeting his roommate—but he’s also excited to join a gaming club and make new friends. “If I had done therapy sooner, I would’ve been in a better headspace to make friends earlier.”

Understandably, his parents are incredibly proud of him.

Now, Eric enjoys going to movies and dinner with his family—things he once dreaded. “We just saw the new Superman movie,” he says. “That’s something I never would’ve done before.”