SHAPE THE FUTURE . CHAMPION INCLUSION . UNLEASH POTENTIAL .
VALUE EVERY VOICE
Emily Schroeder ’ s
Mental Wellness Journey
Emily Schroeder , director of user experience at Cox Automotive , shares her deeply personal story of a lifelong struggle with mental illness and her eventual decision to enter an intensive treatment program just as the COVID-19 pandemic hit .
With her family and beloved dog by her side , and with support from her work family , Emily is moving forward in her journey . She hopes that sharing her experience gives others the strength to seek treatment and open up to loved ones and colleagues .
Here is her story , in her words .
A DAY LIKE ANY OTHER
Going into January 2020 , I was struggling with a rather severe cycle of depression . I ’ ve suffered from anxiety and treatmentresistant depression for many years , but something about this round was different . I walked out of the office on what seemed like a normal Friday , only to be hit by what I call “ my version of a breakdown .” I describe it that way because the ultimate breaking point is very different for each person who struggles with depression , PTSD or any other mental illness . In fact , when I walked out that Friday , I even left my desk a mess . Little did I know I wouldn ’ t return to work for four months , or to my desk for more than a year , because of COVID .
THE CHALLENGE OF RECOVERY DURING COVID
I entered treatment in mid-February , just before COVID was becoming a real concern in the U . S . Yet a key part of depression recovery is working on healthy behaviors like connecting with others . Because of COVID I was limited in what I could do , which made recovery even more challenging .
36 SUMMER 2022